SAAM Press release – May 2022
| Month – May | Percentage change | Year-to-date | Percentage change | |||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
| Tractors | 752 | 554 | 35.7 | 3 306 | 2 852 | 15.9 |
| Combine Harvesters | 53 | 35 | 51.4 | 163 | 126 | 29.4 |
May tractor sales of 752 units were significantly, almost 36%, more than the 554 units sold in May last year. Year-to-date tractor sales are now almost 16% up on last year. Fifty-three combine harvesters were sold in May, 18 units more than the 35 units sold in May last year. On a year-to-date basis combine harvester sales are now 29% up on last year.
Although May sales were encouraging, the market is still being affected by international stock availability and delays at ports, particularly Durban, as a consequence of the local floods. Farmers are currently harvesting. Although yields are good, harvesting is proving to be challenging in some areas where lands are waterlogged. Commodity prices are holding up well and this should help with the increased input prices of fertilizer, fuel and seed which farmers will face for the forthcoming summer cropping season.
Industry forecasts for the 2022 calendar year are that tractor and combine harvester sales will be similar to those in 2021.
Karel Munnik
Chairman: South African Agricultural Machinery Association
Contact: Mr. Karel Munnik (082) 412-2577 or Dr. Jim Rankin (011) 453-7249