The latest Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) Statistics Service Report for September 2024 shows that new tractor registrations are continuing in a downward trend.
The data shows that the new tractor market in September stood at 77 units, which was 31% lower compared with the same month in 2023.
There were 1,715 new tractors registered in the year-to-date, a 13% decline compared with the first nine months of 2023.
The FTMTA said that 206 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in September 2024, 48 units more than in September 2023.
For the year to date, 2,112 used tractors were imported and registered for the first time, a 5.9% decline.
Month New tractor registrations Month Used tractor registrations January 431 January 202 February 231 February 225 March 216 March 245 April 191 April 263 May 161 May 302 June 60 June 202 July 237 July 264 August 111 August 213 September 77 September 206 Total – new 1,715 Total – used 2,112
Cork continues to be the county with the highest number of new tractor registrations at 221 units for the year-to-date.
Tipperary is ranked in second place with 154 units followed by Wexford third place at 101 units.
The most popular power band was the 141 to 160 horsepower (hp) category, which for September 2024 accounted for 23.38% of all new tractor registrations for the month.
Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp accounted for 12.99% of all new tractor registrations, slightly lower than for the same month in 2023.
The over 200hp category now accounts for 11.69% of all new tractors.
The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for September 2024 was higher at 142hp and the largest tractor registered was rated at 415hp.
FTMTA
The report also shows that the Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported an 8.16% decline in September 2024 at 45 units compared with September 2023 when 49 units were registered.
The year-to-date market shows a 2.66% decrease in registrations. The two leading brands JCB and Manitou account for 71% of the total new market, while Kramer is ranked third with a 12% market share.
There were 42 imported used telescopic loaders registered in September 2024.
The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a higher number of new registrations in September 2024 at 10 units, compared with September 2023, while the year-to-date market decreased by 19.3%.
The position of the smaller Chinese manufactured machines increased marginally to 56% of the total year-to-date new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland.
There were 8 imported used wheeled loaders registered in September 2024.
There were four new backhoe loaders registered in September 2024 compared with September 2023 when one new machine was registered. Six used backhoe loaders registered in September 2024 in Ireland.
There were 11 new Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) registered in Ireland in September 2024, with just three used imported UTV registered for the first time. For the year-to-date, 230 new UTVs were registered in Ireland.
The FTMTA Statistics Service Reports are compiled from monthly raw data received only from the Irish Revenue Commissioners, which is responsible for all first-time registrations of new and used vehicles in Ireland.