Northern Ireland tractor sales were down 27.2% in 2020 when compared to corresponding figures for 2019.

According to new figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), almost all parts of the UK saw a decline in registrations.

Only the southeast of England saw a fractional rise in registrations. The rate of decline was smaller in the north of England and Wales than elsewhere. The sharpest fall was in the home counties of England, down a staggering 41.6%.

Power ranges

The decline in registrations was seen across most of the power ranges.

There was a modest fall among machines over 200hp but all broad power bands below that level saw year-on-year falls of 15-20%.

There was a small rise in the number of compact tractors 50hp and under registered. There was also a rise among machines at the other end of the range – 25% more tractors over 320hp were registered in 2020 than 2019.

Average power

The rise in registrations at the top end of the power range meant that the average power of agricultural tractors registered during the year topped 170hp for the first time, reaching 171hp.

The AEA highlights that this is a rise of nearly 30hp, compared with a decade ago.