Overall unit sales of agricultural tractors and self-propelled combines in June 2020 rose in the U.S., and for the first time this year, grew in Canada as well according to the latest data from the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 32.7% in June compared to 2019 while U.S. June self-propelled combine sales grew 36.6%. Only 4WD tractors declined in unit sales in the U.S. in June. Total year-to-date sales of all farm tractors are up 10.5% in 2020, while combines cut year-to-date losses to only 1.7% in the same period.

For Canada, June tractor sales grew across almost all segments, leading to an overall gain of tractor sales of 32.5%, with 100+ horsepower tractors the only segment in the red, falling 20.2% to 202 units sold. That puts year-to-date unit sales for farm tractors statistically flat with 2019, while combines are down 30.8% for the year despite 14.4% growth in the month of June.

“We’re seeing more areas of the economy open up from the previous pandemic-related shutdowns, so we’re not entirely surprised some of that pent-up demand is expressing itself right now,” said Curt Blades, senior vice president of Ag Services at the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers. “However, we’re currently keeping our optimism cautious, as the current state of things with COVID-19 could see a negative impact on demand moving forward. Right now, there is too much uncertainty in COVID-19-related events, and their impact on ag markets, to determine whether or not this trend will continue.”

The full reports can be found in the Market Data section of the AEM website under Ag Tractor and Combine Reports.

U.S.: https://www.aem.org/market-data/statistics/us-ag-tractor-and-combine-reports/

Canada: https://www.aem.org/market-data/statistics/canadian-ag-tractor-combine-reports/