The latest figures released by the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) indicate that the slowdown in registrations of new tractors seen in August has continued through September. A total of 63 new tractors were registered last month, which represents a 38% decline on the same period in 2018.

Despite the decline in registrations over the past two months, a total of 1,830 new tractors have been registered during the first three quarters of this year. This figure is still marginally ahead of the corresponding 2018 figure. As recently as the end of July, registrations were up by 5% year on year.

“It seems likely that uncertainty is feeding into a lack of buyer confidence as we approach the end of October’s Brexit deadline and that, in light of the potential ramifications for Irish agriculture, this is being manifested in somewhat of a curtailment in activity in the market,” said Gary Ryan, Chief Executive of the FTMTA.

“The prospect of a total tractor market exceeding 2,000 units for the first time since 2008, while still possible, looks more remote than even one month ago”.

The three counties with the highest levels of registrations so far this year continue to be Cork, Tipperary and Wexford with 239, 176 and 128 units registered respectively by the end of September. Galway has also broken into the three figures bracket with 105 units registered. Galway, Laois and Wexford were tied for the most registrations in September, with six tractors registered in each county.