Tractor sales dropped by 17% in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year but show indications of a strong recovery over the long term, says the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA).
While sales have dipped, confidence within the tractor and machinery sector is high as it seeks to employ another 150 apprentices across the country, a near 50% increase in annual numbers.
Industry data gathered by TAMA, revealed fewer sales from January to June this year, but TAMA president Mark Hamilton-Manns say it was not unexpected given record sales last year.
“Tractor sales have traditionally been a strong indicator of confidence in the primary sector,” says Hamilton-Manns.
A total of 1465 tractors were purchased between January and June 2015, compared to 1,770 tractors in the same period in 2014.
“It’s a bigger dip than we expected, but we think it’s a blip and tractor sales will recover in the second half of the year, although not to the highs we experienced last year,” says Hamilton-Manns.
He says the tractor and machinery industry is in good heart, with companies reporting via a TAMA industry survey that they require nearly 50% more apprentices to service and repair farmers’ machinery and tractors.
“The challenge for our industry is to attract quality people with an interest in engineering and mechanics.”
The Waikato region saw a decrease in tractor sales for January to June, but still led the way with 238 tractors sold. It was followed by Auckland with 150 purchases and Southland with 125.
Auckland bucked the national trend with 27 more tractor sales compared to the same period last year. East Cape also more than doubled sales, with 29 compared to 12 in 2014. South Canterbury saw a very small increase with 67 sales compared to 66 in 2014.
In other areas, sales either declined or remained the same as last year.
During June this year, the Auckland, West Coast and North Canterbury regions all saw higher tractor sales than in June 2014.
