U.S. farm tractor sales rose 10.3% to 317,897 units in calendar 2021, while self-propelled combine sales climbed 24.7% to 6,272 units. Those are unit-sales figures—not revenue, prices, production, or orders—and the tractor gains varied by horsepower and drive type.
How many tractors and combines sold in 2021?
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) reported 317,897 U.S. farm tractor sales in 2021, compared with 288,187 in 2020. Self-propelled combine sales reached 6,272, up from 5,030 the year before. The increases were 10.3% for tractors and 24.7% for combines, respectively.
AEM describes the figures as preliminary monthly retail sales, compiled from proprietary statistical reporting programs of member companies. They count units sold; the reports do not establish the dollar value of sales or explain changes in equipment prices. AEM’s December 2021 U.S. report and its January 2022 release provide the totals and methodology.
Which tractor segments grew fastest?
Growth was not uniform across U.S. tractor categories. The largest increase was in 100+ horsepower two-wheel-drive tractors, while sub-40 hp tractors did not reach double-digit growth.
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| U.S. tractor segment | 2021 change from 2020 |
|---|---|
| Under 40 hp | 8.9% |
| 40–100 hp | 10.3% |
| 100+ hp, 2WD | 24.1% |
| 4WD | 18.3% |
The segment figures are reported by AEM in its December 2021 report. They show why the headline’s “double digits” applies to overall U.S. tractor sales and most—but not all—tractor categories.
Was the increase limited to the United States?
No. AEM’s year-end summary described gains above 10% in nearly every U.S. and Canadian segment, with the U.S. under-40 hp tractor category—up 8.9%—as an exception. The headline totals of 317,897 tractors and 6,272 combines, however, are U.S. figures; they should not be read as North American totals. AEM’s North American summary provides that broader framing.
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What did manufacturers say about the market?
Curt Blades, then AEM senior vice president for industry sectors and product leadership, said the gains came despite supply-chain issues and workforce challenges that made 2021 difficult for manufacturers. That comment provides industry context; it does not establish that those constraints caused sales to rise. The cited reports do not identify the underlying causes of the increase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did the trend continue in 2022?
No, not for tractors. In AEM’s 2023 year-end release, U.S. tractor unit sales for 2022 were down 14.8% from 2021, while self-propelled combine sales rose another 15.8%. This follow-up makes clear that the 2021 result is a historical snapshot, not evidence of a continuing trend or a current-market forecast. See AEM’s 2022 year-end report.
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