Irish buyers took over £5.7 million of the approx. £15.3 million-worth of tractors and machines sold at the Cheffins Cambridge monthly machinery sale last year.
Spain (£3.3 million) was the second most important export destination followed by Poland (£1.98 million). Other key European markets included Bulgaria, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Austria, Romania, Germany and Belgium. There were also significant sales to Northern Africa, South Africa, Turkey and New Zealand.
Nearly half of all lots (over 3,450 tractors, telehandlers, cultivators, combines and machines) exported from the Sutton sale ground were delivered to more than 35 countries in 2025.
Sales fell by nearly 80% to France, from £311,245 in 2024 to £61,590 last year. This reduction is understood to be linked to customs challenges and changes in the demand from French buyers, coupled with difficulties importing lower value stock due to increased costs. Exports to Ukraine also declined, while the introduction of US tariffs in April led to reduced volumes of tractors and machinery entering the American market.
86.8% of all machines exported last year were to European buyers, buoyed by the strength of the Euro against Sterling, particularly as it weakened towards the end of the year.
“The costs of transport, customs and cleaning has all had an effect on the second-hand market,” says Joe Page, director at Cheffins. “We have mitigated this as much as possible by offering a full export service including sanitary and phytosanitary cleaning certification, dismantling of machinery for containers and paperwork on behalf of clients.”
Demand from the overseas market continues to be focussed on quality tractors, with a particular preference for John Deere and Fendt models, and the auctioneer confirms a marked increase in the sales of JCB telehandlers, which have seen the most interest from Poland, Ukraine, Spain and domestic trade.
Total sales at the Cambridge monthly machinery sale were around £31.8 million last year (approx. £34 million in 2024).
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