New tractor registrations started strong in the new year, with January registrations running 11% higher than for the same month in 2015.

The latest figures from the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) Statistic Service show that 391 new tractors were registered in January 2016, up from 352 in January last year.

Sales of big tractors continue to rise. The biggest sector is now the 100hp to 120hp segment, which grew from 30% to 40% of all sales, year on year. At the bigger power end, tractors over 200hp accounted for almost 24% of all sales in January 2016 compared with 19% this time last year.

Cork continues to lead the new tractor sales figures, followed by Tipperary and Galway and Wexford in joint third place. Longford had the lowest sales, with just two new tractors registered.

The imports of used tractors were significantly down from to 159 to 112 registered in January.

High sterling values and scarcity of used tractors due to an 11% drop in UK new tractor sales during 2015 have affected price and availability for the Irish used tractor market.