WA tractor sales lift as big harvest rolls around

WA tractor sales are powering ahead of this year’s harvest but the first signs of a tapering in the market are starting to appear with the near-term outlook “difficult to predict”. The State’s sales were up 2 per cent in October, raising hopes of another strong year for sales after dealers recorded 33 per cent year-on-year growth last year. It was a bumper month for sales across Australia in October, according to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia’s latest monthly report. WA grain farmers are in line to harvest a second bumper 23.9Mt crop in coming weeks, after reeling in a record 24Mt crop last year — 20 per cent higher than previous record year in 2016 when 18.1Mt was harvested. Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia executive director Gary Northover said the WA and other States had continued to “power ahead” in tractor sales for October. “October has seen another bumper month for tractor sales across the nation in preparation for this year’s harvest,” he said. “While many parts of the Eastern States have been severely impacted by unseasonal rains, the environment for agricultural equipment remains strong.” Mr Northover said national sales for the month were up 3.6 per cent on the same month last year which meant a 2.1 per cent lift on the 2022 year-to-date total. “While this result was indeed a strong one, it contains what might be described as ‘winners and losers’ which may be the first signs of a tapering in the market,” he said. “The near-term outlook for equipment sales remains difficult to predict. “There appears to be a very gradual return to normality on the shipping front but any benefits this might deliver to the supply chain are likely to be offset by ongoing challenges in production, particularly for European suppliers.” “The tractor sales winners were the small less than 40hp (30kw) category, which was up 15 per cent to be still 9 per cent ahead year-to-date along with the large 200hp (150kw) PLUS range which was the standout again this month, 44 per cent ahead of the same month last year and is now 4 per cent up.” He said the 40 to 100hp (30-75kw) range was again down 7 per cent in the month to remain 2 per cent ahead year-to-date and the 100 to 200hp (75-150 kw) category was also down 6 per cent in October to be 3 per cent behind. Mr Northover said sales across the nation, Queensland was up a whopping 32 per cent to remain 14 per cent ahead year-to-date, “WA continues to power ahead, up 2 per cent year-to-date, and South Australia which enjoyed a 30 per cent lift in the month to be now just 2 per cent behind year-to-date,” he said. “Sales in NSW experienced a drop of 4 per cent for the month and are now 1 per cent behind last year while in Victoria, sales were off 10 per cent compared to last October but remain in line on a full-year basis. “Activity in Tasmania was again down, this time by 11 per cent whilst sales into the Northern Territory remain 12 per cent up on last year.” Mr Northover said this year’s harvest are indicating a record level for many regions, notwithstanding the weather events rolling through the nation and this is being reflected in Combine Harvester sales. On a year-to-date basis, harvesters were 8 per cent up on last year with the bulk of the seasons new deliveries to occur over the coming weeks. Baler sales have failed to fire yet again and are now down 36 per cent compared with last year.