On this page you can find some key facts about the UK markets for farm equipment and outdoor power equipment, along with information about exports of agricultural engineering products from the UK.
A more detailed description of the agricultural engineering market and the key factors which influence it, be they environmental, political or economic, can be found in our Overview of the Agricultural Engineering Market.
As the name suggests, the farm equipment industry provides a range of machinery used by farmers. AEA members primarily supply equipment for use in the field, either to support the growing of crops or for the management of grassland and other fodder crops to feed animals.
The value of sales of new farm equipment in 2018 is estimated at just over £1.9 billion. This is around £200 million higher than in 2017, following an uplift in unit sales, a small increase in the size and power of machines and a modest rise in prices, linked to the fall in the value of the pound. Sales figures for used farm equipment are not available and neither are sales of parts. Therefore, the total size of the UK farm equipment market will have been substantially larger than this.
The table below covers some of the main categories of equipment and shows the estimated size of the UK market for new equipment, in terms of the number of units delivered annually. Figures for tractors are based on registrations for road use. More details of tractor registrations can be found on the Tractor Statistics page.
| Calendar year | 5-year average 2013-2017 | 2017 | 2018 | % change 2017-2018 | 2018 diff from 5-year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural tractors (over 50hp) | 11,682 | 12,033 | 12,102 | +1 | +4 |
| Telehandlers | 2,950 | 3,150 | 3,675 | +17 | +25 |
| Tractor loaders | 3,380 | 3,525 | 3,700 | +5 | +9 |
| Ploughs | 830 | 790 | 730 | -8 | -12 |
| Power harrows | 1,040 | 950 | 1,150 | +20 | +10 |
| Sprayers | 820 | 765 | 780 | +2 | -5 |
| Utility ATVs | n/a | 6,600 | 6,700 | +2 | n/a |
| Utility vehicles (side x sides) | n/a | 5,500 | 6,500 | +18 | n/a |
| Mowers/mower conditoners | 2,850 | 3,225 | 3,000 | -7 | +5 |
| Seasonal year | 5-season average 12/13 - 16/17 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | % change 16/17-17/18 | 2017/18 diff from 5-year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combines | 650 | 530 | 575 | +8 | -11 |
| Self propelled foragers | 155 | 140 | 180 | +30 | +15 |
| Round balers | 1,150 | 960 | 1,050 | +9 | -8 |
| Big square balers | 260 | 225 | 235 | +4 | -8 |
The total domestic market for outdoor power equipment has been estimated at around £750 million in 2018, slightly lower than the previous year.
2018 started promisingly for the industry, as many UK economic indicators reported growth, supported by a strong global economy. However, wintry conditions in late February and early March meant the ‘garden season’ started almost a month later than usual. Commercial customers also struggled as the wet conditions that followed led to water-logging in many green spaces. The latter part of spring brought more favourable conditions and order books started filling up again and hopes were expressed of market recovery, only to be dashed by the driest start to summer in modern times. Although a challenge for gardeners, groundsmen faced a challenge to reverse the damage to grass areas and repair dry, unstable soils speedily. In all, the 2018 season was much shorter than most years.
Sales to commercial markets were volatile on a monthly basis but finished the year with an increase of more than 4% in monetary terms. Unit deliveries of compact and sub-compact tractors built on increases in 2017, to advance by 4% and 20%, respectively. In contrast, markets for lawn/garden tractors, ride-on mowers, domestic lawnmowers and handheld garden tools all struggled in the face of the extreme weather conditions experienced during the year. For example, sales of mowers were valued at just under £325 million, including both commercial and domestic models, a decline of about £15 million on the year before.
Latest figures from HMRC show that UK agricultural machinery exports reached £1.94 billion in 2018, a rise of 5% compared with 2017. Over half of the total was made up of tractor exports (including used tractors), the value of which rose by 3% year on year. Other farm equipment exports were valued at £602 million, up 5% on 2016, while sales of outdoor power equipment rose 16% to £212 million.
UK imports fell slightly in 2018, to just over £2.2 billion. A summary of trade for the main types of equipment can be found in the table below.
| Exports | Imports | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product category | Value (£ million, 2018) | Change 2017-18 | Value (£ million, 2018) | Change 2017-18 |
| Tractors | 1,124.7 | +3% | 784.8 | +18% |
| Mowers for lawns, parks and sport grounds | 207.2 | +17% | 202.6 | -7% |
| Harvesting and threshing machinery | 192.0 | +9% | 425.4 | -17% |
| Engines for tractors | 119.4 | -12% | 285.5 | -22% |
| Soil preparation and cultivation machinery | 95.0 | +3% | 198.6 | +24% |
| Other agricultural and forestry machinery | 195.9 | +16% | 233.7 | +2% |
| Other outdoor power equipment | 4.9 | -11% | 80.2 | -11% |
| Total | 1,939.1 | +5% | 2,210.7 | -1% |
