Agfacts
Construction Machinery in Edenvale

AGFACTS - Serving the South African agricultural machinery industry.

Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers’ Association (CONMESA) AGFACTS provides secretarial and administrative services for the Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers’ Association. In addition, AGFACTS collects, analyses and presents retail sales information for members of the Association. Diesel and Gas Engine Association of Southern Africa (DAGEASA) AGFACTS provides secretarial and administrative services for the Diesel and Gas Engine Association of Southern Africa. The AGFACTS’ Mission is to provide the right information to its clients; information which will help them to run their businesses more effectively and more profitably. Represents the interests of companies supplying fertilizers and agricultural lime in South Africa. Represents the interests of owners, operators and manufacturers of haulage tractors in South Africa. AGFACTS Provides secretarial and administrative services for the Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers’ Association. AGFACTS provides secretarial and administrative services for the Diesel and Gas Engine Association of Southern Africa. Include in the press release are the latest retail sales by Association Members of tractors, combine harvesters and balers for the month and for the year-to-date. Also included is a brief summary of agricultural conditions affecting the industry. On a year-to-date basis tractor sales are now very similar to what they were this time last year. May combine harvester sales of 24 units were two units less than the 26 units sold in May last year. The maize crop forecast has been revised upwards again this month, to an all-time record of 15.6 million tons, more than double last year’s crop. The soya bean crop, at 1.23 million tons is also the largest crop ever produced. Although these excellent crop prospects have had an adverse effect on crop prices, the overall sentiment in the industry is positive. As harvesting is taking place, farmers are now better able to judge what their crops are yielding. However, with the maize harvesting having been delayed in some areas, farmers are still waiting to see what their crops will yield. The late rains, particularly in the east of the summer rainfall areas, will have helped a lot with winter wheat and the upcoming summer crops. Thereafter, the market will be driven mainly by weather conditions as they develop in the summer cropping areas. On a year-to-date basis tractor sales are now almost 3% up on what they were this time last year. June combine harvester sales of 20 units were one unit more than the 19 units sold in June last year. Combine harvester sales for the year-to-date are now 11% up on last year. Overall sentiment in the market is currently quite positive. As farmers harvest their crops, they are better able to estimate their production and, although crop prices are depressed because of the record yields, they are better able to make considered decisions on buying equipment. Rand volatility is also affecting farmers’ buying decisions and, where possible, purchases are taking place while there is lower-priced stock which was brought in when the rand was stronger than at present.