The latest Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) Statistics Service Report for March 2025 has outlined the current level of vehicle registration activity in the farm machinery sector in Ireland.

The numbers of imported used tractors and machines, registered for the first time in Ireland, declined compared with the same month last year.

In March 2025, the new tractor market was 180 units, which is 17% lower compared with the same month in 2024, while the year-to-date registration figure is 16% lower.

The report noted that other European tractor markets are recording similar levels of decline.

The German market declined again in March, while the UK market recorded a 24% decline in March compared with March 2024 and a year-to-date decline of 23%.

Cork continues to deliver the highest number of new tractor registrations at 112 units for the year-to-date, while Tipperary is ranked in second place with 76 units, followed by Meath, at 44 units.

The most popular popular horsepower (hp) band is the 160hp to 200hp category, which for March 2025 accounts for 25% of all new tractor registrations for the month.

Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp accounts for just 8.17% of all new tractor registrations for first quarter (Q1) 2025.

The over 200hp category accounts for 13.6% of all new tractors for Q1 2025.

The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for March 2025 increased to 162hp from 149hp in February 2025. The four largest tractors registered each were rated at 370hp.

The FTMTA data shows that 254 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in March 2025, nine more units than in March 2024.

During Q1 2025, used tractor registration figure stood at 661 units, 129 units less than Q1 2024.

The Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported a 10% decline in March 2025 at 51 units, compared with March 2024 units.

The latest FTMTA data shows new telescopic registrations for Q1 2025 increased by 11.55% to 309 units, compared with Q1 2024 when 277 units were registered.

The two leading brands JCB and Manitou account for 73% of the total market, while Kramer has grown to a 10% market share.

There were 48 imported used telescopic loaders registered in March 2025 down from 53 in March 2024.

The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a lower number of new registrations in March 2025 at 11 units compared with March 2024 at 16 units, which was a market decrease of 45%.

The market dominance of the smaller Chinese manufactured machines at the lower price and power in Q1 2025 increased to 63% of all of the new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland.

There were just 10 imported used wheeled loaders registered in March 2025.

The Irish backhoe loader market decreased in March 2025 compared with a year previously, with just four new machines registered, which converts to a 42% decrease.

There were six used backhoe loaders registered in March 2025 in Ireland.

There were 22 new backhoe loaders registered in the first three months of the year, compared with 24 in Q1 2024.

The FTMTA Statistics Service Reports are compiled from monthly raw data received from the Irish Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for all first-time registrations of new and used vehicles in Ireland.