The overall value of turnover of A.E.A. members, both manufacturers and suppliers to the British market, was estimated to be almost £3.1 billion in 2006. Exports for tractors, agricultural machinery and outdoor power equipment accounted for some £1.4 billion.

For an Overview of the Agricultural Machinery Industry click here

Agricultural Engineering Industry
For the agricultural engineering sector total turnover was estimated at some £2.5 billion, £1.5 billion of this being contributed by UK based manufacturers. Within this total the export trade exceeded £1.2 billion.
The UK agricultural engineering industry is a net earner in balance of trade terms
with a surplus of over £300 million.

Domestic Market: In 2006 13566 agricultural tractor units were registered, this was an increase of 3.8% on the previous year in unit terms. The average horsepower rose by 0.5% to 126 hp which meant that total horsepower sold in the year rose by 4.6%.
The value of sales of other agricultural machinery in the UK is estimated to be almost £530 million, a decrease of approximately 2% compared with the previous year.

Outdoor Power Equipment
The total domestic market for outdoor power equipment has been estimated at just over £500 million in 2006, reflecting a marginal decrease on the previous year.

UNITED KINGDOM TRACTOR REGISTRATIONS
Agricultural Tractor Registrations (>50 hp) : Monthly 2006/2007

Source: A.E.A. Economics Department

UK tractor registrations are taken as a broad indicator of the strength of the domestic market for agricultural equipment. Tractors must be licensed for use on public roads and as such are registered with the Department for Transport which allows an accurate count to be made. In value terms, sales of tractors, plus parts and accessories, account for almost one half of farmers' total spend on equipment, which again makes this data series a prime indicator.

Agricultural Tractors: Agricultural Tractors: Sales levels were maintained in the early part of the year despite the late settling of the SPs, then surged ahead in the last three months on the back of firmer crop prices.

History: The first chart below illustrates a cyclical pattern around a longer term downward trend, with 2004 emerging as the most recent peak; the power sold in recent years is shown in the second chart.

Regional: The more westerly regions have been grouped in the first chart below; these tend to include more dairy and livestock enterprises. The more easterly regions are shown on the second chart and these tend to have a predominantly arable base. With the firming of crop prices in the autumn, the arable areas have enjoyed the largest increases, with the exception of N Ireland.

UK TRACTOR REGISTRATIONS : Market Share Analysis
Source: A.E.A. Economics Department

UK AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR REGISTRATIONS (> 50 hp)

Source: A.E.A. Economics Department