The total tractor power sold in the first six months of the year has increased by 6.7% compared with a year earlier to 1.053m horsepower, according to the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA).

 Unsurprisingly, the size of the average tractor has also risen to 151.6hp – a 2.6% gain on the first six months of the previous year.

Splitting the new machines into broad power groups shows the biggest increases in the 141-160hp bracket. Sales of tractors in this segment have risen by almost 22%, with the six-month total standing at 1,563.

All the groupings above 120hp showed an increase in units registered when compared with the same period last year. Tractors from 161-200hp saw the second largest percentage increase – sales were up 17.8% to 922 – while those from 201-240hp rose by 14.4% to 812 units. Smaller increases can be seen in the 241hp-plus sector, and those from 121-140hp.

Big increases among the higher horsepower ranks were somewhat offset by drops in sales of smaller tractors. The 101-120hp category dropped by 4.7% to 1,467, while the sub-100hp sector tumbled by 18.8% to 840 units.

By region

The AEA also provides a regional breakdown of sales. Northern Ireland and the north-east of England showed by far the largest percentage increases – up 30.4% and 29.3%, respectively – but they were by no means the biggest markets. In fact, total sales in the North East tallied just 190 units, which made it the lowest-selling UK region.

The areas generally associated with the arable sector – Yorkshire and Humberside, eastern England and the South East – all showed a drop or very small increase in sales.

Despite that, eastern England remains the tractor sales hotspot – 1,008 units were sold in the eastern counties in the first six months of the year – closely followed by the South West with 961 tractors registered. Scotland and the North West also contributed a good number of new tractor sales.

See also: Deere tops latest tractor sales charts