Agricultural machinery sales surge as 2025 draws to a close

South Africa’s agricultural machinery market is ending 2025 on a strong footing, with tractor and combine harvester sales continuing to rise despite challenging weather and softer commodity prices.

The South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA) reported that 544 tractors were sold in November, up 4% from the 523 units sold in the same month last year.

SAAMA chairperson Willie Human said year-to-date tractor sales are now 19% higher than in 2024, underscoring farmers’ resilience and investment appetite.

“Three combine harvesters were sold in November, 10 less than the 13 units sold in November last year. On a year-to-date basis, however, combine harvester sales are now approximately 3% up on last year. Overall market conditions proved to be quite challenging in November,” he said.

Human noted that widespread rains disrupted planting activities in parts of the eastern regions, while farmers in the west continued planting where conditions allowed.

“Most farmers are now hoping for some sunny, warm weather. Commodity prices have eased due to good international crop prospects. Tractor sales look as though they will end up between 15 and 20% up on last year.”

Looking ahead, Human expects 2026 machinery sales to mirror this year’s performance, barring any unexpected economic or weather shocks.

Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, welcomed the strong sales data, saying the momentum reflects the financial gains of the strong 2024–25 agricultural season, especially in field crops, horticulture and wine grapes.

“These data make one crucial point clear: we are ending 2025 on a strong note in the agricultural machinery industry. We now have data for the 11 months of 2025. Cumulative tractor sales are 7 176 units, up 19% year-on-year,” he said.

Sihlobo added that the combined harvester sales for the 11 months are at 200 units, up by 3%.

“The sales have generally been robust throughout the year, with combine harvesters only cooling in recent months. But the broad picture for the year will be a period of recovery,” Sihlobo said.

“Amongst other things, the increase in agricultural machinery sales primarily reflects the financial gains from the better 2024-25 agricultural season, particularly in field crops, horticulture, and wine grape harvests, which were mainly supported by favourable weather conditions.”

Sihlobo said the figures also show farmers’ confidence in the new 2025–26 season, which has just begun and is expected to benefit from La Niña conditions. Farmers intend to plant 4.1 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds, 1% more than last season, with solid activity anticipated across other crops.

“We will likely see decent plantings in other crops. We now have comfort that South Africa’s agricultural machinery sales will be strong in 2025, resembling the gains in agriculture,” Sihlobo said.

“Most importantly, we don’t see the strong sales as a matter of just 2025. We are optimistic that we can continue on this path through 2026, as the cost of capital remains affordable and the sector is likely to deliver another year of ample harvests.”

Meanwhile, TLU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl said the rapid evolution of precision farming technologies presents both opportunities and challenges. While advanced machinery boosts productivity, he warned that high equipment costs make access difficult for many farmers.

“So if the farmer can afford it, it's very good for him to make sure that he has the newest technology available to make sure that he can utilise it within his production process, but that all goes about the cost of these implements,” Van Zyl said.

“It's very expensive, and the farmer has to bring some balance in his whole planning and what he should do to make sure that he still has equipment that's suitable for doing his production, his planters, and his combines and the way he does farming.”

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