July tractor sales decline further

New tractor sales in Australia continue to slide, with sales for the month of July down seven per cent compared to the same month last year and 28 per cent behind on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, according to the latest figures released by the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA).

“As we flagged last month, June 2023 was the last month of the Federal Government’s Temporary Full Expensing Program which saw last minute sales at unprecedented levels,” said TMA executive director, Gary Northover.

“We now have the basis for a more realistic comparison which shows ongoing softness in the sales picture with expectations of a full year which will be less than 12,000 units.”

Looking across the states, Queensland had a solid month, up eight per cent against the same month last year to be 23 per cent behind YTD. Sales in Victoria also went up by 13 per cent in July to be 25 per cent below last year.

New South Wales, on the other hand, experienced a 29 per cent drop to sit 37 per cent behind for the year while Western Australia reported a small rise of three per cent to be down 15 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Sales in South Australia saw a big drop of 26 per cent, now down 32 per cent YTD, while Tasmania was off four per cent for the month. Finally, sales in the NT were 40 per cent down.

Sales in each of the categories were well off this month except for the small under 40hp category which was up by 22 per cent YOY to be 22 per cent behind YTD.

The 40 to 100hp range was down by 24 per cent YOY to sit 39 per cent behind YTD. The 100 to 200hp category was down six per cent to be 28 per cent off for the year. Finally, the 200hp plus range was 11 per cent down compared to the same month last year and is now 16 per cent behind YTD.

Sales of combine harvesters are off to a slow start and remain 48 per cent behind the same time last year. Baler sales enjoyed a small uptick, up 17 per cent for the month but remain 17 per cent behind YTD. Finally, sales of out-front mowers were up, this time by around five per cent in the month.