MachineryLink

Farm equipment sales in the U.S. are increasing during 2013 and running above sales data from recent years, according to a recent report. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) released its monthly Flash Report on Oct. 10.

According the AEM, U.S. unit retail sales of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive tractors and combines in 2013 continue to run above numbers seen over the last three years. In addition, 2013 sales are also above the 5-year average, which would cover from 2008 to 2012.

Total farm tractor sales jumped 7.6% from September 2012 to September 2013. Sales of 15,577 tractors were seen in September 2013 while 14,475 tractors were sold in September of 2012.

Year-to-Date numbers for total farm tractors show more tractors were sold in 2013 through September than in 2012. In 2013, 153,342 tractors were sold while in 2012 only 136,797 were sold, an increase of 12.1%.

Breaking the numbers down, total two-wheel drive tractors sales increased 9.1% from September 2012 to September 2013. Total sales in 2012 were 13,799 while in 2013 the number increased to 15,049.

Year-to-date figures in two-wheel drive tractor also showed increases in sales. YTD sales in 2012 through September were at 132,304 while in 2013 the number jumped to 148,709, an increase of 12.4%.

Two-wheel drive tractors are divided into less than 40-HP, 40- to 100-HP and over 100-HP. The data here show the larger tractors sold better than the smaller tractors.

From Sept. 2012 to 2013 under 40-HP had an 8.4% increase in sales while 40- to 100-HP tractors had increased sales of 9.3% and 100+ HP 10.4%. The noticeable difference is in the year-to-date numbers. Less than 40-HP sales were up 12.4%, 40- to 100-HP 6.9% higher and 100+ HP up a striking 22.8%.

The AEM report also sub-divides farm tractors into four-wheel drive units, where the numbers are not as good as for larger machines compared to the two-wheel drive tractors.

Sales of four-wheel drive tractors from Sept. 2012 to Sept. 2013 were down 21.9%. September of 2012 saw 676 tractors sold while September of 2013 showed just 528.

The year-to-date numbers on four-wheel drive tractors were a little better up 3.1% from September 2012 to September 2013. September 2012 had 4,493 tractors sold with September 2013 at 4,633 units moved.

Sales of combine dropped 23.9% from September 2012 to September 2013. Sales in 2012 were at 1,350 while this number dropped to 1,028 in 2013.

The year-to-numbers were better for combines, increasing 16.4 from 2012 to 2013. In September of 2012, the year-to-date numbers were 6,611 compared to 7,696 for September 2013.

There are a couple of points that should be made concerning this data.

The AEM reports these numbers are estimates and are subject to revision when final sales data become available. The organization also states because of the seasonal nature of the industry, comparisons of monthly data from one period to another month should be done with "extreme caution."

The AEM reports these data represent machinery in each product category being sold at the retail level in all 50 states and the District of Columbia by most, but not all, manufacturers.

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