AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT MARKET ANALYSIS

Agriculture Equipment Market Size and Trends

The global agriculture equipment market is estimated to be valued at US$ 171.03 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 251.21 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% from 2024 to 2031.

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The agriculture equipment market has been witnessing consistent growth over the past few years. Farm mechanization has become imperative owing to shortage of labor and increase in farm size and scale of operation. The trend towards more productive and efficient equipment such as tractors, harvesters, and milking machines has increased significantly. Moreover, growing concerns towards food security across nations due to ever increasing global population has raised the demand for higher crop and livestock yields. This has promoted the greater adoption of agriculture equipment and technologies suiting varying crop production conditions. The inclination towards smart equipment integrated with advanced technologies including IoT, AI and telematics offers potential growth prospects. Governments across nations have also been supporting farm mechanization through subsidies and finance schemes in order to boost agricultural production.

Mechanization of agriculture

Over the past few decades, farmers around the world have been shifting from traditional farming practices involving manual labor to a more mechanized system involving various agriculture equipment. The labor-intensive nature of farming activities such as plowing, planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting makes it an arduous and time-consuming process if done manually. Agricultural machinery helps address this issue by performing such tasks much more efficiently. Tractors, harvesters, planting equipment, and other automated machines minimize the dependency on manual labor, allowing farmers to cover larger acreage in a shorter period of time. This translates to higher productivity and more significant yields.

As farms continue to grow in size globally to cater to the rising demand for food, reliance on farm equipment and machinery has increased considerably. Large-scale commercial farming now depends heavily on the use of various motorized implements for seeding, tillage operations, applying fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, and automated harvesting solutions. Traditional manual methods are no longer feasible or economical for handling huge tracts of farmland. Mechanical equipment takes care of complex cultivation tasks with unmatched speed, consistency and reliability. This has fueled strong demand over the years with no signs of slowing down.

The mechanization drive is further boosted by the declining availability of agricultural labor in many countries. Farmers now face increasing challenges to find sufficient manpower for labor-intensive farming activities. Aging farmer populations and younger generations moving to urban occupations have caused widespread labor shortages. Equipment helps address this problem by reducing dependency on human labor, improving productivity even with fewer resources. Various countries around the world are thus witnessing significant rises in farm mechanization levels to boost agricultural outputs. This long-term trend of modernizing farming practices through heavy machinery usage continues to spur considerable opportunities for agriculture equipment suppliers worldwide.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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Advanced harvesting

Growing concerns around the environmental impact of agriculture is another key factor driving demand for advanced farming equipment. As population increases exert mounting pressure on limited arable land and water resources, there is a pressing need to optimize resource usage for higher yields in a sustainable manner. Precision farming techniques made possible through innovative farm machinery go a long way in addressing this need. GPS technology, soil sensors, variable rate technology, and other smart functionalities help minimize wastage of inputs. Precision seeding and controlled application of fertilizers and chemicals based on soil insights prevent overuse and spillage into the environment.

Key Takeaways from Analyst:

The global agriculture equipment market is projected to witness steady growth in the coming years. The market is driven by rising mechanization of farms across major agriculture producing nations as labor costs continue to increase. Adoption of advanced machinery that improves efficiency and productivity will support demand. However, high initial purchase cost of modern equipment remains a constraint, especially in price-sensitive developing regions.

North America are expected to continue their dominance due to well-established distribution networks and strong demand for imported high-tech machinery. Nevertheless, the market in Asia Pacific is likely to emerge as the fastest growing region supported by large cultivatable areas and increasing farm sizes in countries like India and China. Governments in Asia Pacific are also promoting mechanization through subsidies which is positively impacting sales.

Diversification into organic and contractual farming presents new prospects for equipment makers to tap. Precision farming technologies that optimize inputs will gain traction. Manufacturers are developing solutions based on IoT, data analytics and telematics to enhance farm management. Collaborations with agrochemical firms provide cross-selling opportunities. The shift to alternative fuels and electric vehicles in agriculture is still at a nascent stage but shows promise.

Market Challenges: Small land holdings fragmentation limiting mechanization

Small land holdings fragmentation is significantly limiting the scope for mechanization in the global agriculture sector. When agricultural land holdings are small and fragmented into several non-contiguous plots, it is difficult for farmers to efficiently utilize large agricultural machinery. Most modern agricultural equipment such as large tractors, harvesters, and tillage machines require adequate space to maneuver. With small and scattered land holdings, their deployment and effective use becomes a major challenge. This hampers the adoption of mechanized practices and use of modern equipment in agriculture.

Further, when land plots are small and divided, the cost of transporting machinery from one land parcel to other increases vastly. It also makes other mechanical operations such as irrigation, sowing, fertilizing and spraying of chemicals an arduous task. With small and divided land holdings, these operations have to be done manually which increases the turnaround time and production costs for farmers. The lack of adequate scale due to land fragmentation poses operational and cost hurdles for widespread deployment of machinery. This is a key factor restraining the scope for mechanization and growth of the agricultural equipment market globally.

Market Opportunities: Precision farming technologies

Precision farming through the use of latest technologies has a huge potential to significantly impact the global agriculture equipment market in a positive way. Precision farming relies on gathering data through satellite imagery and sensor technology to optimize crop production. It allows farmers to vary the rate of fertilizer application, watering, and other inputs based on soil conditions and crop needs within single fields. This precision application helps maximize yields while minimizing costs and environmental impact.

For example, precision soil sampling can produce detailed digital soil maps at sub-meter resolution to help optimize nutrient and lime application across fields. Sensor technology is also helping farmers implement variable rate seeding based on soil quality. Drones and robots equipped with cameras, LiDAR and other sensors can regularly monitor crop health and detect issues like weeds, pests or diseases early on when treatment costs are lower. Analytics tools then use this spatial data to produce prescription maps for targeted application of inputs. All of this precision enables more efficient farm management practices and higher productivity.

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Insights By Product Type: Tractors contributes the highest share of the market owing to increasing mechanization needs

Tractors is expected to hold 31.7% share in the global agriculture equipment market in 2024 owing to their utility across various farming operations. With growing farm sizes and increasing need for mechanization, tractors have become indispensable for ploughing large tracts of land in limited time. Their power and ability to tow or operate various farm attachments efficiently make tractors highly desirable for tasks like seed bed preparation, sowing, spraying of fertilizers and pesticides, harvesting and transportation of produce.

Additionally, continual technology upgrades in tractors are further driving their adoption. Advanced features in new generation tractors such as GPS, telemetry and auto-guidance systems are helping boost productivity and optimize input usage. Powerful and fuel-efficient engines also improve efficiency. Manufacturers increasingly focusing on comfy cabins, improved ergonomics and safety features are making tractor operations more user-friendly. The addition of multi-function controls and simplified hydraulic systems allow easy operation of attachments.

Government schemes for farm mechanization in many countries also promote tractor sales. Subsidies and finance schemes specially designed for tractors and farm equipment have enhanced affordability for smallholder farmers as well. On the other hand, rising labor costs and lack of farm workers are leaving farmers with no option but to adopt mechanized solutions. This increasing mechanization translates into robust demand for tractors.

Furthermore, development and production of specialized tractors suitable for niche applications such as orchard crops, hilly terrains and vineyards is expanding tractor adoption. With their compact sizes yet powerful engines, such customized tractors are better equipped to handle precision farming tasks. Rising preferences for renting or leasing tractors rather than ownership is another trend gaining traction.

Insights By Application: Land development & seed bed preparation contributes the highest share of the market owing to vital preparatory functions

The land development & seed bed preparation segment is expected to dominate the global agriculture equipment market with 40.3% share in 2024 owing to the indispensable nature of these preparatory functions. Proper land preparation forms the foundation for achieving high crop productivity and yields. It involves operations such as plowing, disking, harrowing, leveling, and forming beds which are crucial for ensuring proper tillage, pulverizing soil structure, removing weeds and providing an even seeding base.

Timely completion of land preparation activities also determines the planting schedule and subsequent cropping cycle. The larger tractor segments and associated farm tools required for heavy tillage and soil conditioning tasks translates into bulk demand from this segment. With increasing mechanization, tractors, rotavators, disc harrows and other land development equipment see extensive yearly use. Moreover, mulching appliances and seed-drills are gaining popularity for their targeting placement of seeds and conservation of moisture.

The demand is particularly pronounced in developing regions where farmers are still upgrading from manual land preparation to powered farm machinery. Standardizing land development practices further spurs replacement demand for modernized equipment with advanced functions. Growing adoption of mulching, minimum or zero tillage techniques also present opportunities with new product varieties. Contract farming and mechanized leasing services are expanding the market reach for this segment.

Regional Insights

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North America has established itself as the dominant region in the global agriculture equipment market. The region is expected to account for 38.1% of the market share in 2024. The U.S. Agriculture Equipment Market has a strong presence with leading players operating from the region for decades. Major product launches and innovations regularly happen from the U.S. as companies invest heavily in R&D. The region also sees high mechanization rates with farm sizes being large on average. This has ensured the demand for high-capacity equipment such as large tractors remains robust. Strong distribution networks of manufacturers provides farmers easy access to the latest machinery. Trade relations also support a dynamic market as import tariffs on most equipment categories are low or nil between the U.S. and Canada.

Asia Pacific has emerged as the fastest growing regional market for agricultural implements globally. Rapid growth in agricultural output to meet rising food demand from growing populations is a big factor supporting equipment adoption. Counties such as India and China are also undergoing machinery upgrades as farm labor becomes scarce. This has accelerated the mechanization of tasks and tractor sales. Local manufacture is increasing with global OEMs setting up manufacturing bases to cater to the large home market as well as for exports within Asia Pacific and to Africa. India in particular has incentivized local production under its Make in India program. However, due to lower average farm sizes, the market sees strong demand for sub-compact tractors and small power equipment. Exports from Asia Pacific have been rising as well with cost competitiveness and free trade agreements aiding shipments.

While Europe has a developed agriculture market as well, growth has been relatively slower compared to other regions. Mature mechanization levels and stringent emission regulations have kept demand growth steady rather than exponential. However, precision farming technologies uptake has been rapid with strong focus on sustainability. European manufacturers have a strong foothold in specialty crops equipment and remain technology leaders in automation and precision agricultural solutions. Local expertise in these categories is then exported globally through strong distributor networks, ensuring the region sustains its prominent position.

Market Report Scope

Agriculture Equipment Industry News

• In July 2023, Deere & Company, a global leader in agricultural equipment, announced the acquisition of Smart Apply, Inc., a precision spraying equipment company. The acquisition will allow Deere &Company to leverage Smart Apply, Inc.'s Intelligent Spray Control System to help growers address challenges around rising input costs, labor shortages, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals by reducing chemical and water use while optimizing crop yields.
• In July 2023, CLAAS KGaA mbH, a leading global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, unveiled its new high-performance XERION 12 Series tractors. The two new models, the XERION 12.650 and 12.590, are powered by a 15.6-liter Mercedes-Benz engine and feature the company's Eccom 5.5 CMATIC continuously variable transmission, delivering up to 653 horsepower and 2,287 lb-ft of torque to help growers maximize productivity and efficiency in North American markets.
• In June 2023, JCB, a leading manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment, announced plans to introduce its first fully electric wheeled loader, the 403E. The 403E boasts zero-emission performance and low noise levels, making it well-suited for use in livestock farming, horticulture, and other indoor and outdoor applications. The loader is available with a choice of narrow or wide wheels, as well as agricultural or industrial tires, allowing customers to configure the machine for their specific operational needs.
• In June 2023, Swaraj Tractors, a prominent tractor brand and part of the Mahindra Group, unveiled the launch of its new 'Swaraj Target' range of lightweight compact tractors. The Swaraj Target tractors feature first-in-class functionalities, unmatched performance capabilities, and state-of-the-art technology designed to cater to the specialized needs of Indian farmers, particularly those in the fast-growing horticulture segment.

*Definition: The global agriculture equipment market consists of companies that manufacture and distribute various types of farm machinery and equipment used in agricultural activities around the world. This includes tractors, harvesters, irrigation and crop processing equipment, planting equipment, milking machines and dairy equipment. The market has seen rapid growth and technological advancement in recent years driven by the increasing global population, rising demand for food supplies and the need to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency on a global scale. Key players in this market help equip farmers and support food production worldwide.

Market Segmentation

• Product Type Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Tractors
  • Harvesters Machinery
  • Planting Equipment
  • Irrigation & Crop Processing Equipment
  • Spraying Equipment
  • Hay & Forage Equipment
  • Others
•  Application Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Land Development & Seed Bed Preparation
  • Sowing & Planting
  • Weed Cultivation
  • Plant Protection
  • Harvesting & Threshing
  • Post-harvest & Agro-processing
• Regional Insights (Revenue, US$ Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • AGCOCorporation
  • Agromaster
  • Amazone Inc.
  • APV GmbH
  • Bellota Agrisolutions
  • CLAAS KGaA mbH
  • CNH Industrial N.V.
  • Deere & Company
  • Escorts Limited
  • HORSCH Maschinen GmbH
  • ISEKI & Co., Ltd.
  • J C Bamford Excavators Ltd
  • KUBOTA Corporation
  • KUHN SAS
  • LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG