Agricultural machinery sales declined slightly in June; this was according to the South African Agricultural Machinery Association.
Willie Human, Chairman of the South African Agricultural Machinery Association, said that June tractor sales of 623 units were 2% less than the 636 units sold in June last year. “On a year-to-date basis, tractor sales are now approximately 1% down on last year. Eleven combine harvesters were sold in June, two less than the 13 units sold in June last year.”
Human added that on a year-to-date basis, combine harvester sales are now almost 4% lower than last year. “There is still a lot of uncertainty in the agricultural machinery market. Harvesting of maize is still not complete and may even continue into September. With the lateness of the season, some farmers are waiting to see what the yield and quality of their maize harvests will be.”
Human said high input costs and the threat of an impending El Niño phenomenon are also causes for farmers’ concern. “However, with oil prices coming down and the high soil moisture levels currently prevailing, conditions for the beginning of the summer cropping season now look favourable.”
Human added that current predictions of tractor sales for the 2026 calendar year are still that these will be similar, or marginally lower, than those in 2025.
