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South African Agricultural Machinery Association
Suid-Afrikaanse Landboumasjinerieassosiasie

PRESS RELEASE

January 2012: TRACTOR and COMBINE HARVESTER SALES

Retail sales of agricultural equipment during January 2012 were as follows:

January tractor sales of 790 units were almost 85% higher than the sales of 428 units reported in January last year. This was the highest January sales figure in the past 30 years, that is since 1982. January combine harvester sales of 13 units were significantly up on the 10 units sold in January last year.

Fundamentals in the market still remain positive. Summer crops in most areas are looking good, but need rain in the next four weeks to realise their full potential. With regard to the current maize crop, yield is going to govern the fine balance between sufficiency or insufficiency of production for local consumption. This will have a bearing on crop prices as local and international grain stocks are relatively low.

Industry predictions for tractor sales for the 2012 calendar year are currently between 6 600 and 7 100 units, between 5 and 10% down on 2011 sales.

Lane Reynolds
Chairman: South African Agricultural Machinery Association
Contact: Mr. Lane Reynolds (082) 652-2501 or Dr. Jim Rankin (011) 453-7249

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