AGFACTS Newsbrief Summary - May 2010

·         The four-quarter moving total of South African agricultural machinery sales (2010Q1) is currently R4.75 billion, 26.8% down on the figure of R6.49 billion a year ago.

·         The third production estimate for commercial maize for the 2009/2010 season is 13.1 million tons.   This is 8.7% more than in the 2008/2009 production season.

·         The overall trend in the year-on-year price increases (smoothed) of agricultural machinery is unchanged on the previous month.   The current overall year-on-year reduction in prices (smoothed) is 5.2%.

·         Year-to-date tractor sales are currently 17.2% lower than those of last year.

·         The AGFACTS Tractor Sales Index is currently 0.86.   The short-term trend in tractor sales is upwards.