South Africa's tractor sales climbed 53 percent in the year to July to 4,119 units as farmers in Africa's biggest maize producer prepared to harvest a bumper summer maize crop, officials said on August 7.Sales rose further as farmers replaced old equipment, the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA) said.
South Africa is expecting a bumper maize crop for the 2007/08 season of around 11.60 million tonnes.
Tractor sales rose by 48 percent year-on-year to 657 in July alone, SAAMA said in a statement.
"The main contributor is the large summer grain crop of which the largest portion is maize and together with that the higher current grain prices," said SAAMA chairperson, Charles van Niekerk. "If you look at the maize crop produced in South Africa, the expected maize crop is just under 12 million tonnes."
Reuters
August 07, 2008
South Africa's tractor sales experience steep rise
Categories maize, mechanization, South Africa