SAAMA Press Release – September 2024
September 2023: Tractor and Combine Harvester sales
Retail sales of agricultural equipment during September 2024 were as follows:
Month | Percentage | Year-to-date | Percentage | |
September | change | September | change | |
2024 2023 | % | 2024 2023 | % | |
Tractors | 660 715 | – 7.7 | 4 733 6 127 | – 22.8 |
Combine Harvesters | 17 18 | -5.6 | 154 401 | -61.6 |
September tractor sales of 660 units were approximately 8% less than the 715 units sold in September last year. Year-to-date tractor sales are now approximately 23% down on last year. Seventeen combine harvesters were sold in September, one less than the 18 units sold in September last year. On a year-to-date basis, combine harvester sales are now approximately 62% down on last year.
Although tractor and combine harvester sales are well down on last year, they are showing a return to ‘normal’ levels. This means that we can expect tractor sales of around 6 500 units and combine harvester sales of approximately 250 units for the 2024 calendar year.
Overall, market sentiment is cautiously optimistic. Summer-crop farmers are currently waiting for planting rains. Predictions are that the La Niña phenomenon, which is still neutral, will start developing in mid-November, so delaying the onset of widespread summer rains until then. Thereafter, favourable rains should fall.
Willie Human
Chairman: South African Agricultural Machinery Association
Contact: Willie Human (083) 954-7232 or Dr. Jim Rankin (011) 453-7249