Agricultural Machinery in 2023: Worse than the previous year, but December shows slight improvement in results.
A total of 10,300 new tractors were registered (therefore effectively, purchased) in Poland in 2023. This is over 12 percent less than the previous year, which could be due to a dip in morale in the agricultural machinery and equipment industry, according to the analysis by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Agricultural Machines and Devices (PIGMiUR). A similar trend is also becoming evident in another primary segment of agricultural machinery: trailers. A slight improvement in results for both these categories was brought about by the end of 2023. However, a steady increase is noted in the registration of used tractors and trailers.
Throughout 2023, 10,300 new tractors were registered. This is 12.2 percent less than in 2022 when the number of registered (effectively bought) new machines of this type was 11,727, i.e., 1,427 more than in the recently concluded year.
The New Agricultural Machinery: Downtrend Continues
The data, based on CEPiK, was prepared by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Agricultural Machines and Devices, which monitors this market in our country every month.
“The declining trend among new agricultural machines is evident as 2022 was already worse than – the record-breaking year of – 2021. The result for 2023 is not a surprise for the industry. It was speculated throughout the year that the registration would be around 10,000 pieces.” says Wojciech Bury, the president of PIGMiUR.
He stresses, however, that the end of the year can bring a certain sense of moderate optimism, though it was still worse than the last month of the previous year. According to PIGMiUR data, 1338 new machines of this kind were registered in December 2023, and the highest number of tractors registered in a single month that year. The data also shows a comparative improvement to March when over 1000 registrations surpassed, with 1011 tractors being registered. This time the previous year, the number was 1115.
New Tractors: The Leaders
New Holland seized the leading position at the end of the year. Over the course of twelve months, 1794 tractors of this brand were registered. This is 51 less than in 2022. Its share in 2023 was 17.4 percent, i.e., 1.7 pp more than the previous year. John Deere came in second place overall, with 1555 registrations. This is 62 fewer than the previous year. Its shares were 15.1 percent, i.e., 1.3 percentage points more than the previous year. Kubota claimed the third position with 1195 registered machines, 50 more than the previous year. This brand’s shares were 11.6 percent, i.e., 1.8 pp more than in 2022.
Geographically, the Masovian province came first, followed by Greater Poland, while Lesser Poland and Silesia were the only ones where PIGMiUR noted an increase in the number of registrations. In all other regions, the number of registered tractors was fewer in 2023 than in 2022.
New Agricultural Trailers – Similar to New tractors
A similar trend can be observed in the segment of another basic category of agricultural machines, the trailers. In December alone, 409 new machines of this type were registered. The same time the previous year, 536 were registered, making 127 more than the past month. From January to December 2023, 6227 new agricultural trailers were registered, i.e., 1869 fewer than the previous year.
Despite Everything, Moving Forward. The Registration of Second-Hand Machines is Growing
Despite this situation and worse results than the previous year in this segment, the agricultural machinery industry is trying to maintain a positive mood.
“Considering the sales of new tractors throughout the year, it can be assumed that the result at this level is quite good,” believes the President of PIGMiUR.
This opinion is influenced by the secondary market data. Here, a steady upward trend is now evident.
“Machine users, i.e., farmers conducting activities in the agricultural industry on a various scale, understand that their competitive position against producers in other European countries largely depends on the degree of mechanization and modernization. Therefore, they must purchase equipment. Even if it is older than brand new ones, for which they would have additional EU funding,” argues Wojciech Bury.
In 2023, the Chamber noted 22,599 registered used tractors. This is 2162 more than in 2022, so the increase here is 10.6 percent.
