SAAMA Press Release – August 2026

August 2026: TRACTOR and COMBINE HARVESTER SALES

Retail sales of agricultural equipment during August 2026 were as follows:

	Month – August			Year to date
	2026	2025	%	2026	2025	%
Tractors	606	700	-13.4%	4 640	5 015	-7.5%
Combine Harvesters	4	5	-20.0%	170	172	-1.2%

Southern African tractor sales of 606 units in August were 13% less than the 700 units sold in August last year. On a year-to-date basis, tractor sales are now approximately 7% down on last year. Four combine harvesters were sold in August, one less than the five units sold in August last year. On a year-to-date basis, combine harvester sales are now approximately 1% down on last year.

With the current summer-cropping season having been delayed by almost two months, there have been some uncertainties prevailing. Crop yields, crop prices, input costs and current and future weather conditions are some of these. Nevertheless, farmers are now planning for the forthcoming season, and with the current favourable soil moisture levels and the recent early rains, the likelihood of planting beginning early, particularly with short-season crop cultivars, is good.

The trend in agricultural machinery sales should become more evident in the next two months. However, predictions are still that tractor sales for the 2026 calendar year will be approximately 10% lower than those in 2025.

Arthur Bezuidenhout
Chairman: South African Agricultural Machinery Association

Contact: Arthur Bezuidenhout (072) 725-7757 or Dr. Jim Rankin (011) 453-7249