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