The latest figures on new tractor registrations for Ireland compiled by the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association’s (FTMTA) Statistic Service, show a continuing strong market with year to date growth of 16% to the end of March 2021 compared with the same period in 2020. Overall, 239 new tractors were registered in March, almost identical to the March 2020 figure, giving a year-to-date total of 1,036 tractors, up 16% from the first quarter of 2020.
Despite all of the Brexit related issues, registrations of used tractors, the bulk of which still come the British market, continued to show growth. The March 2021 used tractor registration figures are the highest for a number of years at 403, giving a first quarter figure of 1,371, the highest for a number of years.
These figures on first time tractor registrations show that for the first three months of 2021 a total of 2,407 tractors entered the Irish market. This equates to an estimated investment of close to €150 million by Irish contractors and farmers in the purchase of new and used imported tractors, so far for 2021.
Cork remains Ireland top selling new tractor county accounting for almost 14% of the total, with Tipperary next with 8.7% of Irish registrations. Wexford recorded the third highest new tractor registration figure at almost 7% of the total. New tractor registrations for the first quarter of 2021 are relatively well spread across the country.
The 101hp to 140hp power bands remains the most popular in the Irish market, according to the FTMTA data, which shows over 50% of all new tractors in this power band. The figures also show that 25% of all new tractors are rated at over 200hp, while those rated at under 100hp now just account for 9% of total new tractor registrations.
