Tractor sales rise by 2.5% y/y in June to 449 units: Saama
Tractor sales showed a surprise 2.5% year-on-year (y/y) rise to 449 units after dropping by 10.9% y/y in May to 400 units, slumping by 20% y/y in April to 360 units and following an annual 2.5% drop in 2014 to 6,464 units, according to the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (Saama).
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"The tractor market in June was quite buoyant, but still very competitive. Summer crop farmers in some parts of the country are still harvesting their crops. Those farmers who have harvested their crops now have a better idea of the actual yield and quality of what is coming off their lands.
"Once all the summer crops have been harvested, the industry should have a clearer idea of the trend in sales for the rest of the year," the industry body said.
Given the 30% drop in the maize harvest compared with last year, industry expectations are now that the 2015 tractor market will be about 10% down on 2014. Sales in the first six months of 2015 were down 8.5% y/y.
Source: BDpro