UK registrations of new tractors (over 50hp) in December 2018 were well below their level in the same month a year ago.

The UK-based Agricultural Engineers Association said that the December 2017 registrations were inflated by the inclusion of a large number of machines being pre-registered in advance of the entry into force of new regulations.

The total number of new tractors registered in the UK in 2018 reached 12,102

The December 2018 total of 849 machines was 38% down year-on-year but otherwise was the highest figure for December since 1994.

The total number of new tractors registered in the UK in 2018 reached 12,102.

This was just under 1% higher than the total for 2017 and the largest annual figure in four years.

This figure will also indicate a reasonably healthy market for secondhand tractors, many of which cross the Irish Sea.