Cheffins has announced figures for 2023, reporting £71 million in total sales. This represents a £23 million increase in machinery and plant sales compared to 2022.
Demand for quality, low-hour machinery remained strong during the year, with buyers looking to the second-hand market for sound investments and savings. A total of 51 sales were conducted in 2023, with 34 on-site farm or dealer dispersals, the Cambridge Monthly Machinery Auctions and five vintage sales.
Oliver Godfrey, director, and head of the Machinery Division at Cheffins said: “Despite supply chains returning to normality from the past couple of years, new machinery prices continue to be high, which is adding caution to the market, especially when many arable growers have struggled to get winter crops established.
“The export market has also returned in full force over the past 12 months, with machines sold and shipped worldwide from both our monthly machinery sales hosted at Sutton and at the on-site sales throughout the country.”
Highlights included the sale held on behalf of Ripon Farm Services in Yorkshire, which saw more than £5 million of machinery sold in one day. The Staines Hire UK auction also saw a fleet of late-registered, low-houred John Deere tractors offered to the market, with high prices being achieved.
Standouts included a 2022 John Deere 6R125, which sold for £131,000 to a buyer from Poland, and a Massey Ferguson 20 Multi-Power which achieved three times its estimate at £31,500. A Massey Ferguson 6150, with a single owner and just 3,210 hours on the clock, reached £35,000 through a timed online auction.
Oliver continued: “There is still a huge demand for low-hour, high-spec, well-maintained second-hand equipment that has come directly from farm. Buyers are prepared to pay a premium for these items as they represent a sound investment and a considerable saving over a new machine. We offer all our auctions to a global audience which provides sellers with greater confidence that we can achieve the best prices for their machines and handle exporting kit to its final destination.
“2024 has started at the same pace we saw in 2023, with strong prices being paid for good-quality, second-hand machinery and we have several big sales already in the pipeline that we are excited to bring to market.”
For more information go to www.cheffins.co.uk
