The latest FTMTA Statistics Service Report for July 2024 shows a reduced level of activity in the farm machinery sector in Ireland with new tractor registrations continuing in a downward trend.
The numbers of imported used tractors and machines, registered for the first time in Ireland, increased compared with the same month of July 2023.
Tractors
The July 2024 new tractor market at 237 units was 13% lower compared with the same month in 2023. There were 1,527 new tractors registered in the year-to-date, an 11% decline compared with the first seven months of 2023.
County Cork continues to deliver the highest number of new tractor registrations at 209 units for the year-to-date, while Tipperary is ranked in second place with 136 units followed by Limerick third place at 86 units.
The most popular power band was the 161 to 200hp category, which for July 2024 accounted for 21.10% of all new tractor registrations for the month. Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp accounted for 11.39% of all new tractor registrations, slightly higher than for the same month in 2023. The over 200hp category now accounts for 13.51% of all new tractors. The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for July 2024 was higher at 147hp.
The FTMTA data shows that 264 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in July 2024, 12 units more than in July 2023. For the year to date, 1,703 used tractors were imported and registered for the first time, a 9.7% decline.
Telescopic Loaders
The Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported a 12% increase in July 2024 at 93 units compared with July 2023 when 83 units were registered. The year-to-date market shows a 3.25% increase in registrations. The two leading brands JCB and Manitou account for 71% of the total new market, while Kramer is ranked third with a healthy 12% market share. There were 41 imported used telescopic loaders registered in July 2024.
Wheeled Loaders
The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a lower number of new registrations in July 2024 at 10 units, compared with July 2023, while the year-to-date market decreased by 17%. The position of the smaller Chinese manufactured machines at the lower price and power end of the market again declined marginally to 50% of the total year-to-date new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland. There were 9 imported used wheeled loaders registered in July 2024.
Backhoe Loaders
There were 12 new backhoe loaders registered in July 2024 compared with July 2023 when 10 new machines were registered, which converted to an 4.35% year-to-date decrease. There were 9 used backhoe loaders registered in July 2024 in Ireland.
UTV Registrations
There were 27 new UTV’s registered in Ireland in July 2024, with just one used imported UTV registered for the first time. For the year-to-date 230 new UTV’s were registered in Ireland.
