Larger kit is leading the way in the UK tractor tractor market, with a 40% uplift in the number of 260hp-plus machines registered during the first half of 2024.

Tractors above 240hp accounted for 15% of total registrations, up from 10% during the same period last year, according to figures from the Agricultural Engineers’ Association (AEA).

Despite this uplift, demand is reportedly “mixed” across all power bands, with lower returns for arable farmers limiting investment in new machinery.

See also: Falling arable margins take toll on new tractor registrations

Overall, tractor sales remain down on the year, with 13% fewer registrations compared with the first six months of 2023.

AEA chief economist Stephen Howarth told Farmers Weekly that part of the reason for this increase in registrations of larger tractors could be due to longer waiting times and backlogs for machinery from previous years.

Registrations for tractors between 50hp-240hp fell by almost 20% on the year.

Average tractor power increased to its highest recorded level at 180.7hp, up from 173.5hp last year.

Regional breakdown

The number of tractor registrations declined in all UK regions, with the biggest drops in the home counties and the South West, falling by 43% and 29% respectively.

In Scotland, tractor registrations fell by 2.4%, in Wales they were down by 7%, and in Northern Ireland, registrations declined by 1.6%.