July tractor sales fall while combine sales rise year-over-year

Sales of U.S. and Canadian tractors fell last month, while combine sales rose in the U.S., according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

In the U.S., total ag tractor sales fell 21% in July compared to a year ago while self-propelled combines rose 9.2% with 715 units sold last month. This category also saw an increase in June sales.

While the heavy-duty tractors category sales were positive for the month, the mid-range and sub-40 horsepower (hp) segments saw losses.

In the heavy-duty tractors category, 100+ hp 2WD tractor sales were up 22.8% and 4WD units were up 21.8%. However, mid-range tractors between 40 and 100 hp fell 16.3%. Down 27.9%, the sub-40 hp realized the most losses. Year-to-date, total tractor sales are down 14.8%, while combine sales are down only 2.2%.

In Canada, overall tractor sales were down 10.7%, with losses in all 2WD sectors. However, 4WD tractors were up 27.9%. Overall, sales in the 2WD segments dropped 11.5%. Leading the losses were the 100+ hp machines. which fell 21.3%. Combine sales fell 32.3% to 247 units sold. Year-to-date tractor sales are down 8.3%, while combines were down 22.1%.

“The trends we are seeing in farm equipment unit sales track with trends we are seeing in the overall economy,” says Curt Blades, senior vice president, industry sectors and product leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “The segments that are still positive, harvesters and row-crop tractors, are high-dollar units. Farmers don’t invest in this kind of equipment unless they feel certain enough future markets will allow them to pay for them.”

Read the full Ag Tractor and Combine reports by clicking on the U.S. and Canada links.