Combine and baler sales surge as tractor market holds steady

Combine harvester sales reached 200 units in September 2026, according to the latest figures from the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA).

The result is 80 per cent ahead of the same month last year and lifts combine sales four per cent above the previous year on a rolling 12-month basis.

Despite the strong month, the TMA notes that full-year combine sales are tracking at around 700 units, which remains below the levels recorded in previous years. Even so, the association says the September result has injected some much-needed optimism into the overall health of the market.

Baler sales added further support, recording another strong month with more than 100 units sold. On a rolling 12-month basis, baler sales are now 41 per cent ahead of last year.

Tractor sales were broadly in line with September last year, with around 800 machines sold during the month. On a year-to-date basis, however, sales remain 11 per cent behind 2025 levels as farmers continue to contend with higher input costs.

Larger tractors dominated September sales, with both categories above 100hp recording growth for the month:

The 100–200hp category posted the strongest monthly result, up 14.5 per cent, while the 200hp-plus segment rose 8.1 per cent.

Smaller machines remained under pressure, with the 40–100hp category down 13.4 per cent and the sub-40hp segment down 8.5 per cent. All four categories remain behind last year on a year-to-date basis, with the sub-40hp segment the hardest hit, down 16.0 per cent.

NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania all reported improvement in September, while the remaining states and territories recorded declines:

South Australia led the month with a 41.2 per cent increase, followed by Tasmania at 30.8 per cent. The Northern Territory recorded the sharpest monthly fall at 33.3 per cent, ahead of Western Australia at 21.2 per cent and Queensland at 12.9 per cent.

Every state and territory remains behind last year on a year-to-date basis, with NSW the furthest behind, down 15.3 per cent, while Tasmania is close to level, down 0.4 per cent.

In other machinery categories, out-front mower sales were down for the month and are now level with last year on a year-to-date basis. Self-propelled sprayer sales also fell, down 17 per cent compared to September last year.