The 9,852 tractors registered in the UK for the first nine months of this year is 19% higher than at the same stage last year and 8.0% above the previous five-year average, reports the AEA.
Across the year to date, registrations were up on 2020 in virtually all power bands, although there was little growth in the 161-200hp band (Figure 1).
Growth was particularly strong in the 121-140hp range. This band also saw solid growth in the third quarter but was outpaced by the 201-240hp range.
Figure 1. Source AEA
Overall, it appears that the average power of machines registered this year will be slightly lower than a year ago, with the mean figure for January to September 2021 standing at just under 170hp (172.5hp in the same period last year).
All regions have recorded growth in tractor registrations so far this year, except for Yorkshire and the Humber, where they were almost unchanged from January to September 2020 (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Source AEA
The strongest growth is in the East Midlands (+62%) and Northern Ireland (+50%). These regions saw somewhat slower growth in the third quarter, although still above average, when the fastest increase was in the Home Counties, albeit from a low base. Yorkshire, the north west of England and South Wales saw small year-on-year declines in the latest three months.
