AGFACTS Newsbrief Summary - November 2009

·       Twenty one manufacturers currently sell 428 tractor models in South Africa.   This is 47 more models than were offered five years ago.

·       The most tractor models occur in the combined “orchard” class with 14.3% of total models.   The next most popular classes are the 60 – 70 kW and 70 – 80 kW classes, with 13.8 and 10.3% of the total models, respectively.

·       Approximately 76% of tractor models offered on the South African market are four wheel drive models.

·       In the past five years there have been significant increases in the number of models being offered in the 20 – 30 kW, the 60 – 70 kW and the 150 kW and above classes.

·       The trends in year-on-year price increases of all categories of agricultural machinery are still moving steadily downwards.   The current overall year-on-year increase in prices (smoothed) is 8.0%.

·       The overall wheat crop is expected to be 1.996 million tons in the 2009 season, approximately 6% down on last year.

·       Year-to-date tractor sales to October 2009 amount to 5 903 units, approximately 18% down on last year.