McCormick sales in 2005 consolidated fourth-place ranking

•McCormick consolidates top-four ranking gained for first time in 2004

•Market share remains the same, as some makes suffer significant losses

•Associate manufacturer Landini appears in the statistics for the first time

Tractor sales figures for 2005 show that McCormick consolidated its position in the UK with a market share much the same as in the previous year while the gap to its nearest competitor opened.

According to official statistics supplied by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), the UK trade body for farm tractor and machinery companies, McCormick's 7.9% share of tractor registrations was just 0.1% lower than in 2004 when it moved into fourth place for the first time.

"While some makes suffered big market share losses in 2005, the popularity of McCormick products was sustained at a similar level to the year before, in a market that was down almost 10% or 1512 units," notes UK sales director Jeremy Lamb. "It's also worth bearing in mind that the shares of some makes are bolstered by strong sales of compact tractors of less than 40hp; strip those out and McCormick's figures would look even better."

McCormick's associate manufacturer, Landini, appears in the figures for the first time; the company started subscribing to the statistics once Landini UK was set-up to take over sales and distribution from an importer.

"Landini's strength is still largely in livestock farming sectors of the country with tractors of up to 120hp or so," notes Mr Lamb. "But with a steadily expanding dealer network and the introduction of new models, it is gaining ground – last year was Landini's best ever for both wholesale shipments to dealers and retail deliveries to farmers, with retails 8.5% up on the year before."