August 2021: TRACTOR and COMBINE HARVESTER SALES
Retail sales of agricultural equipment during August 2021 were as follows:
| Month – August | Percentage Change % | Year-to-date – August | Percentage Change % | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||
| Tractors | 724 | 465 | 55.7 | 4 658 | 3 594 | 29.6 |
| Combine Harvesters | 14 | 13 | 7.7 | 176 | 141 | 24.8 |
August tractor sales of 724 units were almost 56% more than the 465 units sold in August last year. Year-to-date tractor sales are now almost 30% up on last year. Fourteen combine harvesters were sold in August, one unit more than the thirteen units sold in August last year. On a year-to-date basis combine harvester sales are now almost 25% up on last year.
Sentiment in the market is still very positive. Good summer crops and good prospects for winter crops contribute to this. However, summer-crop farmers face increased input costs for their forthcoming plantings and this might affect machinery sales. Nevertheless, forecasts for the remainder of the year indicate that tractor sales for the 2021 calendar will be between 15 and 20% up on last year.
Karel Munnik
Chairman: South African Agricultural Machinery Association
Contact: Mr. Karel Munnik (082) 412-2577 or Dr. Jim Rankin (011) 453-7249