UK tractor registrations are taken as a broad indicator of the strength of the domestic market for agricultural equipment. Tractors must be licensed for use on public roads and as such are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which allows an accurate count to be made. In value terms, sales of tractors, plus parts and accessories, account for almost one half of farmers’ total spend on equipment, which again makes this data series a prime indicator.
Agricultural Tractor Registrations (>50hp): Monthly 2022-2024
| Year | Month | Units | Yearly % Change | Year to date | Yearly % Change | Moving Total | Yearly % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Jan | 500 | -13.8 | 500 | -13.8 | 11937 | +14.1 |
| Feb | 571 | -3.9 | 1071 | -8.8 | 11914 | +13.7 | |
| Mar | 1976 | -5.2 | 3047 | -6.5 | 11805 | +9.9 | |
| Apr | 1152 | +14.2 | 4199 | -1.6 | 11948 | +10.2 | |
| May | 1283 | +16.3 | 5482 | +2.1 | 12128 | +7.1 | |
| Jun | 938 | -36.4 | 6420 | -6.2 | 11592 | -1.5 | |
| Jul | 973 | -4.5 | 7393 | -6.0 | 11546 | -2.4 | |
| Aug | 834 | +0.6 | 8227 | -5.4 | 11551 | -3.8 | |
| Sep | 1070 | -7.7 | 9297 | -5.6 | 11462 | -4.2 | |
| Oct | 926 | +25.3 | 10223 | -3.5 | 11649 | -3.1 | |
| Nov | 728 | +34.1 | 10951 | -1.6 | 11834 | -0.6 | |
| Dec | 628 | -28.9 | 11580 | -3.6 | 11580 | -3.6 | |
| 2023 | Jan | 644 | +28.8 | 644 | +28.8 | 11724 | -1.8 |
| Feb | 487 | -14.7 | 1131 | +5.6 | 11640 | -2.3 | |
| Mar | 2223 | +12.5 | 3354 | +10.1 | 11887 | +0.7 | |
| Apr | 1280 | +11.1 | 4634 | +10.4 | 12015 | +0.6 | |
| May | 1015 | -20.9 | 5649 | +3.0 | 11747 | -3.1 | |
| Jun | 1128 | +20.3 | 6777 | +5.6 | 11937 | +3.0 | |
| Jul | 1097 | +12.7 | 7874 | +6.5 | 12061 | +4.5 | |
| Aug | 714 | -14.4 | 8588 | +4.4 | 11941 | +3.4 | |
| Sep | 1114 | +4.1 | 9702 | +4.4 | 11985 | +4.6 | |
| Oct | 1007 | +8.6 | 10709 | +4.7 | 12065 | +3.6 | |
| Nov | 414 | -43.1 | 11123 | +1.6 | 11751 | -0.7 | |
| Dec | 693 | +10.4 | 11816 | +2.0 | 11816 | +2.0 | |
| 2024 | Jan | 475 | -26.2 | 475 | -26.2 | 11647 | -0.7 |
| Feb | 477 | -2.1 | 952 | -15.8 | 11637 | -0.0 | |
| Mar | 1939 | -12.8 | 2891 | -13.8 | 11353 | -4.5 | |
| Apr | 1158 | -9.5 | 4049 | -12.6 | 11231 | -6.5 |
Source: AEA Economics Department/DVLA
Annual Market Summary (2023): At the start of 2023, tractor manufacturers were still working through a backlog of orders which had built up in the previous two years due to widespread supply chain disruptions following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine. That meant that, although 2023 was a tougher year for farm finances, registrations of agricultural tractors held up. They started the year strongly and in the first half of the year were 6% higher than in the same period of 2022. The picture began to reverse in the second half of the year, by which time most delayed orders had been fulfilled and reduced demand from struggling farmers was starting to have an effect. In the end, the number of agricultural tractors registered finished at a similar level to that seen in 2022 (and, indeed, in most recent years), at 11,816 machines.
Historic Trends: Tractor registrations in 2023 were 2% higher than than in 2022 and remained close to the average size of the market in the previous five years. With the exception of the pandemic affected year of 2020, the UK tractor market has been remarkably stable of late, with registrations falling between 11,580 and 12,040 in six of the last seven years. As a result, the total power of tractors registered annually has fluctuated around 2 million horsepower, without a clear long-term trend. In 2023, growth was mainly at the top of the power range, so the total power of agricultural tractors registered during 2023 was the highest since 2012, when nearly 20% more machines were being sold. Over the long-term, the average power of tractors has increased at a steady pace since at least 1990, when the average power of tractors registered was 90hp. In 2023, it reached 174hp, over 5hp higher than in 2022 and beating the previous record set in 2020.
Regional Trends: At regional level, there was growth in most parts of the UK in 2023 but significantly fewer machines were registered in Northern Ireland and the North East of England than in 2022. There were also marginally fewer recorded in East Anglia, South Wales and the North West. The fastest growth was in the English Midlands and the South West.
Source: AEA Economics Department
| 2021 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Units | % of Total | Units | % of Total |
| John Deere | 3558 | 25.3 | 3960 | 30.4 |
| CNH of which: New Holland Case IH | 4037 2682 1355 | 28.7 19.1 9.6 | 3390 2122 1268 | 26.0 16.3 9.7 |
| AGCO of which: MF Fendt Valtra | 3087 1530 911 646 | 21.9 10.9 6.5 4.6 | 2895 1379 845 671 | 22.2 10.6 6.5 5.2 |
| Kubota | 947 | 6.7 | 956 | 7.3 |
| Claas | 557 | 4.0 | 470 | 3.6 |
| JCB | 261 | 1.9 | 274 | 2.1 |
| Same Deutz-Fahr | 257 | 1.8 | 176 | 1.4 |
| AgriArgo of which: McCormick Landini | 200 131 69 | 1.4 0.9 0.5 | 129 99 30 | 1.0 0.8 0.2 |
| Others | 1167 | 8.3 | 767 | 5.9 |
| Total UK | 14071 | 100.0 | 13017 | 100.0 |
N.B. Data includes Compact Tractors (<= 50 hp) and Agricultural tractors (> 50 hp)
Data released after one year delay due to the requirements of Competition Law.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Units | 12013 | 12040 | 10380 | 12017 | 11580 | 11816 |
| Annual % Change | +0.7 | +0.2 | -13.8 | +15.8 | -3.6 | +2.0 |
| Total horsepower (000′s) | 1991 | 1999 | 1775 | 1999 | 1950 | 2055 |
| Annual % Change | +2.7 | +0.4 | -11.2 | +12.6 | -2.5 | +5.4 |
| Average horsepower | 165.8 | 166.0 | 171.0 | 166.3 | 168.4 | 173.9 |
| Annual % Change | +2.0 | +0.1 | +3.0 | -2.7 | +1.2 | +3.3 |
