UK agricultural tractor registrations of machines over 50hp reached 7,996 units in the first six months of 2011, an increase of 2.9% on the same period in 2010, says the Agricultural Engineers Association.

Registrations in the month of June were 1,596 units, 0.7% lower than a year earlier.

The market is running largely in line with the AEA predictions that 2011 should show a modest increase over 2010 levels.

In regional terms, the first half of the year saw Northern Ireland and the East Midlands enjoying double-digit increases of 14% and 11.8% respectively. Three regions saw a decline on last year with Wales and the North both down 3.5%, and the South West down 2.7%.

The average power of tractors in the agricultural sector over 50hp was 142hp, up 1.6% on a year earlier.