Tractors: uncertainty for the world market

The figures published by Agrievolution on the first half year partly confirm the negative trend of the sector in the years 2014-2015. Tractor sales decreased in several European countries but also in China, Japan and Russia. Negative effects on Italian exports, that in May 2016 decreased by 4%. EIMA International could mark the divide between market's negative trends and the first signs of economic recovery

Revenue decrease, that hit the agricultural sector in 2014 and 2015, still continues to influence the global economic scenario, reducing farms investment capacity and affecting the market of agricultural machinery and equipment, in strong decline. After ending 2015 with a 6.6% sales volume decrease, tractor market still registers negative growth rates. The figures developed by Agrievolution – the representative body of manufacturers associations of the main countries – although still partial, confirm between January and June a 23% decrease of tractor sales in China – a country that in recent years, as well as India, has been considered as a driving force of global markets – with only 220,000 registered tractors (compared to almost 285,000 units in the first half of 2015). Considerable decreases also in Russia (-25% with about 9,600 machines), while the Japanese market had an even stronger decrease of 27%, ending up the first half year with 21,700 units. In Europe, where the tractors sales were down by 5,5% compared to first half 2015, is confirmed the negative market trend of Germany, decreased by 7% in 2015 and with a sales decrease by 10% in the first half of 2016, as well as of England, decreased by 10% last June. France makes an exception, increasing by 12% and recovering the strong downturns of 2014, during which the French market registered a 22% contraction. Indian market, partially monitored due to figures related only to the first four months of the year, goes against the trend, increased by 10% in the period between January and April, with 151,000 registered machines and partly recovers the slight decrease of 2015. Positive trend for the American market too, that in 2015 decreased by 2%, while in the first half year had a sales increase of 4%. Uncertainty of global market trends affects Italian exports, representing a substantial part (70%) of the sector’s total sales value. In fact, according to Istat figures on foreign trades – in the period between January and May 2016 – there was a 3.7% export decline. This year’s negative trend had already been predicted by the analysts of Agrievolution and considered as an immediate aftermath of the agricultural crisis of the two previous years. It is likely that from this last months of the year the market may show signs of recovery and that EIMA International – the event of agricultural mechanization that, from 9 to 13 of November, will host in Bologna businesses from over 40 countries and economic traders from over 140 countries – could mark the divide between market’s negative trends and the economic recovery.