Upturn In Tractor Registrations
Since the introduction of the split year for motor vehicle registration purposes in 2013, the month of July has assumed as great a significance in relation to tractor registrations as it has for car registrations and is now second only to the key month of January in terms of registrations of new tractors. The latest figures from FTMTA in relation to registrations of new tractors during this July have been much awaited by observers of the trade given the reduced level of registrations during the first half of the year which saw a drop of 13% as against the same period of 2016. July has brought some relief, while not offsetting the decreased market of the first six months, and saw 238 units registered which is, as expected, the second highest level of monthly registrations after January. Perhaps more importantly, the July registrations were only 2% down on July 2016 whereas January’s were some 15% down year on year. Hopefully, July’s performance is an indication of returning confidence on the behalf of customers, probably driven mainly by a resurgent dairy sector. It is to be hoped that this confidence will continue to manifest itself in the remaining months of the year in terms of orders for delivery during the early months of 2018. It is worth bearing in mind that even the full market experienced in 2016 of 1,876 units is less than 40% of that seen at the height of the pre-recession years. This much reduced market presents many difficulties to those businesses operating within it.
A total of 1,406 new tractors have been registered during the first seven months of this year and while that is some 11% less than in the corresponding period of last years the rolling year on year percentage reduction in registrations is now at the lowest level seen all year. As normal, Cork continues to be the county with the highest level of registrations during the year to date with 174 units and is followed by Tipperary with 120 units. Wexford and Galway show nearly identical levels with 88 and 86 tractors registered respectively. Clare has the fifth highest level of registrations during the period under review with 75 units.
Teleporters, backhoe loaders and wheeled loaders all continue to show improvements in registrations when compared to the first seven months of 2016. Teleporters are up slightly at 216 units versus 209 last year. Backhoe loaders are also up slightly at 34 versus 31 units. Wheeled loaders have performed strongly with 68 units registered which is an significant increase of 16 units on the same period last year.
Be a part of a stronger, professional, farm machinery industry – join the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association – contact FTMTA at 045 409309 or membership@ftmta.ie for details.
