The latest FTMTA Statistics Service Report for February 2023 shows an increased level of activity in the farm machinery sector in Ireland with new tractor registrations continuing in an upward trend. The numbers of imported used tractors and machines, registered for the first time in Ireland, increased compared with the same month of February 2022.
Tractors
The February 2023 new tractor market at 227 units was 2% higher compared with the same month in 2022. The year-to-date figures are 11% higher than the same period in 2022 with 712 new tractors registered in the Republic of Ireland in February 2023, compared with 643 units in 2022.
County Cork continues to deliver the highest number of new tractor registrations at 89 units for the year-to-date, while Tipperary is ranked in second place with 61 units followed by Wexford at 59 units.
The most popular power band moves to the 141 to 160hp category, which for February 2023 accounted for 23.03% of all new tractor registrations. Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp now account for 4.21% of all new tractor registrations. The over 200hp category now accounts for 7.72% of registrations.
The FTMTA data shows that 295 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in February 2023, 37 units more than in February 2022. There were 525 used tractors first registered by the end of February 2023 compared with 485 units for the first two months of 2022, an 8.25% increase.
Telescopic Loaders
The Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported a slight decline in February 2023 at 53 units. The latest FTMTA data shows new telescopic registrations decreased in February 2023 by 15.87% compared with February 2022 when 63 units were registered. The two leading brands account for over 70% of the total market. There were 26 imported used telescopic loaders registered in February 2023.
Wheeled Loaders
The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a higher number of new registrations in February 2023 at 23 units, compared with February 2022, while the year-to-date market increased by 41%. The market dominance of Chinese manufactured machines at the lower price and power end of the market for farmers remains strong for the year to date to the end of February 2022 and now accounts for over 60% of the new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland. There were just 5 imported used wheeled loaders registered in February 2023.
Backhoe Loaders
The Irish backhoe loader market remained stable in February 2023 compared with February 2022 with just 5 new machines registered. There were 12 used backhoe loaders registered in February 2023 in Ireland.
