The number of new 161-200hp tractors registered in the UK increased by 80% in the first three months of this year, accounting for nearly 30% (979) of the total 3,354 units.
Earlier this week the AEA reported that the 3,354 new tractors registered in the UK in the first three months of this year were 10% higher in the same period a year ago. Now the Peterborough-based organisation has released data that breaks down this number into power bands. The figures show a clear split with more tractors registered above 161hp and a decrease in the numbers from 100-160hp.
Starting at the higher end of the power scale, the largest increase was in the 161-200hp sector, but registrations of 201-240hp tractors were also up by more than a fifth to 536 units, tractors from 241-320hp by a third to 197 units and registrations above 320hp increased by nearly 25% to 128 tractors.
In stark contrast to these increases, the only sector that showed an increase at the lower end of the power scale was the 50-100hp bracket (+5.3%). Registrations in all other power bands were down; 101-120hp (-11.5% to 376 units), 121-140hp (-6.9% to 339 units) and 141-160hp (down by a third to 464 units).
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The AEA suggests that the trends in higher power bands may partly reflect improved availability, as supply chain disruptions ease. However, it probably also reflects strong demand from arable farmers who have had a good couple of years, due to strong prices.
This is also reflected at regional level, as registrations increased across most of England, with the exception of the north-west. The biggest increases were in the South of England and East Anglia, as well as the north-east, although the latter region accounts for only a small proportion of tractor sales.
In contrast, registrations were lower than last year in Wales and Northern Ireland and only slightly higher in Scotland, all parts of the UK dominated by livestock farms, which fared less well financially in 2022.
Source: AEA Economics Department
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