New telehandler registrations in February increased compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).

After falling by 8.5% in January, telehandler registrations recovered well in February, registering a 23% increase on the same month in 2019. During February, 53 such machines were registered.

“The total number of telehandlers registered in January and February was 161 units, which is exactly the same figure as in the same period of 2019, which was a very strong year for such machines with a total of 476 registered,” noted Gary Ryan, chief executive of the FTMTA.

Cork (36), Meath (24) and Tipperary (18) were the three counties with the highest levels of telehandlers registered. These three counties account for nearly 50% of all such registrations during the first two months of the year.

Wheel loaders

Meanwhile, wheel loader registrations had a second consecutive strong month in February, with 12 units registered. This is an increase from the seven units registered in February 2019. The first two months have seen 37 such machines registered as against 20 in the corresponding period of 2019. The three counties with the highest numbers of wheeled loaders registered during January and February were Cork (eight), Tipperary (four) and Kerry (four).

It was another slow month for the registrations of backhoe loaders, with four units registered in February, down from eight last year. The two monthly totals for backhoe loader registrations add up to 10 units, down from the 23 in the same period of 2019.