New figures from the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) show that a total of 2,134 new tractors have been registered for the year to date, which is a 6% increase over the same 10-month period in 2025.
The October 2026 new tractor market was exactly the same number as registered in October 2025, at 101 units.
The 120hp-140hp category accounted for the highest share of registrations at 101 units for October 2026, accounting for 35.64% of all new tractor registrations. The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for October 2026 was 140hp, and the largest tractors registered were each rated at 250hp.
The FTMTA data shows that 236 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in October 2026, 16 units fewer than in October 2025. There were 2,420 used tractors first-time registered in Ireland for the year to the end of October.
UK
Figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) show that there were eight fewer tractors registered in October in Northern Ireland compared to last year. However, the year-to-date figure is 630 units, in comparison to 433 units this time last year. This shows that tractor sales in Northern Ireland are up over 45% year on year.
Looking at the UK as a whole, the AEA figures show that 865 tractors were sold in October across the UK, meaning the October 2026 number was 16% higher than last year. For the first time since April, it was also slightly above the five-year average for the time of year. Registrations for the year to date in the UK are 9,182 units, which is above the 8,791 recorded in the whole of 2025 and 17% higher than in the first 10 months of last year. The AEA noted that while this year’s tractor market still looks likely to be at the lower end of the range seen in recent years, it still marks the start of a recovery.
Telescopic loaders
The Irish market for new telescopic loaders, at 38 units, reported a 36% decrease in October 2026 compared with October 2025. The two leading brands for the year to date, JCB and Manitou, accounted for 70% of the total year-to-date market, with Weidemann ahead of Kramer and Merlo. There were 59 imported used telescopic loaders registered in October 2026.
The Irish wheel loader market recorded an 87% decrease in new registrations in October 2026, while the year-to-date figures show just a 0.57% decrease.
The Chinese-manufactured machines at the lower-price end of the market accounted for 56% of the new wheel loader registrations.
