Last week we reported how the AEA had released figures that showed UK agricultural tractor registrations in the opening three months of 2024 were 14% lower than in the same period last year.

The Association has new revealed how trends varied across the country and between different power bands between January and March 2024.

Figures show how there were fewer tractors registered in the opening three months of this year than in same period of 2023 across the whole of the UK. Agricultural economist at the AEA, Stephen Howarth, said, "The sharpest declines were in the South and West of England, with a 29% drop in the South West particularly significant, as this region registers the second largest number of tractors. Smaller drops were recorded in the Eastern half of England and in Scotland (-10%), Wales (-4%) and Northern Ireland (-1%)."

In terms of analysis of registrations of tractors by engine power, figures show that there was some growth for the largest machines. "The number of tractors over 240hp registered was up by nearly 40%, compared with the first quarter of 2023," confirmed Stephen. "These machines accounted for 14% of registrations this year, up from just 9% a year ago. Below this level (but over 50hp), there were nearly 20% fewer tractors registered, with a similar rate of decline across most broad power bands."