RUNNING into an erratic harvest season – including across Northwest Victoria – the Tractor and Machinery Association has reported November has been another difficult month for tractor sales.
TMA executive director Gary Northover said dealers continue to report depressed demand across the nation.
Mr Northover said with just fewer than 1000 tractors sold in November – which is down a worrying 20 per cent on the same time last year – and just on 10,000 delivered year-to-date, 2024 is now 24 per cent below the same time last year.
He said if that trend played out through December it would put full year sales at, or below, 11,000 tractors, which will be the lowest level since 2019.
“November saw the release of the TMA quarterly business sentiment survey, delivered by Kynetec, with more than 120 dealers from across the nation responding,” Mr Northover said.
Other key findings from the sales report include a further reductions in satisfaction with turnover, a slight increase in expectation of new tractor sales, expectations for combine sales remain unchanged but balers and hay tool sales decreasing, and a general reduction in inventory levels by dealers.
“One hopes the glimmer of hope for tractor sales, combined with ongoing inventory reductions, will lead to improved sales in 2025,” Mr Northover said.
New South Wales was down 22 per cent for the month and remains 31 per cent behind for the year, while Victoria reported a drop of 12 per cent to be down 20 per cent compared with the same time last year.
South Australia had another big decline, off a whopping 64 per cent, now down 35 per cent for the year to date.
Sales of combine harvesters are not keeping up with last year and currently sit 27 per cent behind on a year-to-date basis, a significant pull back.
