The Tractor and Machinery Association state of the industry report for 2018 confirmed the impact drought had made on sales in eastern states but concluded WA had mitigated national figures.
Launching the report at the TMA annual conference, held in Melbourne last week, Agriview managing director Alan Kirsten said 2018 marked the 8th year of more than 10,000 units of tractors sold.
"Tractor sales were 12158, so we are still over the 12,000 unit mark and that is happy days for industry," he said.
"Last year was down 7 per cent on the end of year average, not as good as the year before, but that was a record, the best in 30 years."
Mr Kirsten said unsurprisingly the harvest machinery market was hardest hit, coming in at 676 units sold.
"The combine market was down 22pc, and no wonder given the poor state of the east coast, thank goodness for WA," he said.
Mr Kirsten said on the flip side, baler sales were strong in 2018, up 14pc on the previous year and up 7pc on the five year average.
"What caught a lot of people off-guard was that a lot of the failed crops last year were baled, because of the hay shortage, so all of a sudden we saw a spike in demand for large square balers," he said.
Mr Kirsten said self-propelled sprayers were weaker and tillage and seeding market was also behind.
Overall the first half of 2019 has seen decreased tractor and machinery sales albeit with a surprising kick in June.
Mr Kirsten said so far 6440 tractors have been sold, which was on track for a moderate year.
"Up until May we were tracking at 12.5 per cent down, then we had an extremely strong June," he said.
Mr Kirsten said Western Australia was holding up the national market.
"Most states are down, Queenslands down 7pc, NSW, down 20pc, Vic is down 7pc, Tasmania us up 7pc on low volumes, SA dropped 21 pc but WA is up 10pc," he said.
Mr Kirsten said 108 combine harvesters had been sold in the first half of year.
"That is up 16pc year on year and is a product of inventory and some really good deals," he said.
Mr Kirsten said balers will still performing well, however commercial farming equipment and self-propelled sprayers were down.
"That large square baler which usually went to the contractor or the dedicated hay producer is now being considered in the broadacre farmers mix of machinery to mitigate a failed crop situation," he said.
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