Sales of agricultural machinery in Italy weakened between July and September 2026, reversing the positive momentum recorded earlier in the year.
Economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability and adverse climate conditions have dampened farmers’ willingness to invest, although government incentives continue to provide some support to the market.
Italy’s agricultural machinery market experienced a slowdown in the third quarter of 2026, with registrations declining across all major equipment categories.
The latest figures, presented by FederUnacoma during the press conference for EIMA International 2026, highlight the growing challenges facing the country’s agricultural equipment sector.
Data compiled by FederUnacoma from the Italian Ministry of Transport’s registration records show that the market started the year on a positive trajectory, continuing the recovery recorded in 2025, which had benefited from government incentives.
However, this momentum gradually weakened as the year progressed.
According to Mariateresa Maschio, president of FederUnacoma, geopolitical instability, rising inflation and the climate crisis that emerged in late spring and continued through the summer have placed additional pressure on agricultural businesses.
These challenges have affected investment confidence, making farmers more cautious about purchasing new machinery.
Speaking at the presentation of the 47th edition of EIMA International in Rome, held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), Maschio outlined the performance of the domestic market during the third quarter.
The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, CREA President Andrea Rocchi and FederUnacoma Director-General Simona Rapastella.
Between July and September 2026, sales declined across all major machinery categories compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Tractor registrations fell by 13.8%, while combine harvesters recorded a 37.5% decline. Transporters were down 18.2%, telescopic handlers fell by 16.2%, and trailer registrations decreased by 5.6%.
The third-quarter downturn also affected the overall performance for the first nine months of the year.
Between January and September, Italy registered 12,290 tractors, representing a 3.3% decline compared with the same period in 2025. Transporter registrations dropped by 11.4% to 542 units, while trailer registrations fell by 6.1% to 5,685 units.
However, not all equipment categories recorded negative results.
Despite the sharp summer decline, combine harvesters maintained positive growth over the nine-month period, with registrations increasing by 12.4% to 235 units.
Telescopic handlers also remained in positive territory, recording a 9.3% increase to 916 units, although their growth rate had halved compared with the beginning of the year.
FederUnacoma noted that public incentive programmes have helped cushion the impact of the difficult economic environment.
Schemes such as the ISMEA Innovation Fund and the INAIL safety programme provide opportunities for agricultural businesses to replace ageing equipment with newer machinery incorporating advanced technologies.
Maschio emphasised the strategic importance of government intervention in supporting the sector.
“Public intervention plays a strategic role,” she explained, noting that incentives help agricultural businesses maintain investment in advanced machinery despite unfavourable market conditions.
They also encourage innovation and the gradual modernisation of the agricultural machinery fleet to higher standards.
Against this backdrop, EIMA International provides an important platform for the agricultural machinery industry, offering opportunities to explore new business prospects while facilitating discussions on sector-specific support policies, market incentives and strategies for accessing promising commercial markets.
The latest market figures underline the importance of continued investment support and technological modernisation as Italy’s agricultural machinery sector navigates an increasingly challenging economic environment.
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Martin is a writer at Agrimachinery Africa specializing in agricultural machinery, mechanization trends, and farm technology across Africa. His work focuses on tractors, harvesting equipment, irrigation systems, and emerging innovations helping farmers improve productivity and efficiency. Through in-depth industry coverage, he highlights technologies shaping the future of modern agriculture.