Sales of all farm machinery reported by Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) registered a decline of 8.7% during the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Overall revenue reached nearly AR$7.5 billion ($199.1 million at current exchange rates). The unit sales drop was more significant for harvesters (102 units), which declined 65.1%, while tractor sales (1,335 units) dropped 53.9%. Agricultural implements (1,388 units) decreased 35.4% and seeder sales (596 units) fell 19.2%.

The latest report from Brazil’s Anfavea reveals that year-over-year tractor sales in November escalated by nearly 23%, but they dropped 29.4% compared to the previous month. In October, tractor sales reached 2,873 units vs. 2,336 in November of 2017 and 4,070 in October 2018. Year-to-date, sales increased to 36,118 units vs. 33,238 in the same period last year.

Just days after announcing around 70 layoffs when production of tractor transmissions is transferred to China from a YTO factory in northern France, the Chinese manufacturer revealed plans to develop and assemble a new line of tractors at the plant. According to French media reports, YTO will unveil a new tractor brand at the SIMA show in Paris in February with the goal of having the machines for sale in 2020.