Cheffins, which conducts the largest monthly sale of second-hand tractors and agricultural machinery in the world, has reported sales of over £23 million in Q2 2026 throughout both the flagship Cambridge Machinery Sales at the firm’s dedicated site near Ely, its April Vintage Auction and at on-farm auctions across the UK.
Sales are up 30 per cent in comparison with Q2 2025 which achieved total sales of £17.6 million. In all, 11,741 lots were offered across the Cambridge Machinery Sale, the April Vintage auction at on-farm auctions, with the average lot price standing at £8,459, up from £6,966 in Q1 2025.
Growth was led by the firm's on-site auctions, which generated £11.3 million in sales, compared with £3.5 million during Q2 2025. This was achieved despite conducting fewer auctions, with 17 sales held during the quarter compared with 20 in the same period last year. The Cambridge Monthly Machinery Sales generated £9.45 million during the quarter, while the April Vintage Sale contributed a further £2.3 million.
Demand from overseas buyers also remained strong. Cheffins exported 158 pieces of machinery during the quarter, including 102 tractors, four combine harvesters and a range of other agricultural equipment destined for Poland, Sweden, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands. Of the tractors exported, 47 were John Deere models, alongside eight Massey Ferguson and eight Fendt tractors.
11,741 lots were offered at the Cambridge Machinery Sale across three auctions in the quarter, whereas 2,899 were sold at on-site auctions and 3,377 at the April Vintage Sale.
Top lots for the quarter included:
· £257,000 for a 2023 Fendt 942 Vario Profi+ Tractor at a timed online auction in Bedfordshire
· £187,000 for a 2022 Claas Trion 720 Terra Trac Combine Harvester from a timed online auction in Somerset
· £160,000 for a 2018 New Holland CR9.90 Combine Harvester at a live sale in Devon
· £136,000 for a 2018 Bateman RB35 Self Propelled sprayer at a live sale in Oxfordshire
· £135,000 for a 2024 JCB Fastrac 4220 Icon tractor at timed online auction in Buckinghamshire
Charles Wadsley, Senior Director at Cheffins comments:
"Demand for direct-from-farm machinery has remained exceptionally strong at both our monthly collective sales and on-site auctions. Farmers continue to invest in machinery, but many are opting for high-quality second-hand equipment rather than buying new.”
"The significant increase in sales during the quarter, together with the higher average lot values achieved, reflects buyers investing ahead of harvest. We've conducted sales across the country, from Devon to Northumberland, ranging from timed online auctions through to major full farm dispersal sales, including significant instructions on behalf of Velcourt."
Q3 2026 is set to host a series of on-site auctions, with the most significant being a post-harvest auction on behalf of Velcourt across six sites nationally. The quarter will also see the July Vintage Sale and a series of other auctions. Some of the most anticipated include an auction of potato grading equipment for ARFCo, an auction of modern machinery in Durham and a significant sale of slurry and digestate contracting equipment in Northamptonshire. There will also be three sales hosted in Hampshire and others in Essex and Hertfordshire.
Charles Wadsley continues: “The agricultural sector continues to operate against a backdrop of uncertainty, from changing grant funding to questions over the viability of this year’s harvest following difficult weather conditions. Despite this, farmers remain willing to invest where they see value, and quality second-hand machinery continues to represent an attractive alternative to purchasing new.”
"While approximately 50 per cent of our forthcoming auctions are full dispersal sales as some retire or leave the industry, many others reflect farmers restructuring, changing direction or releasing capital while continuing to invest in their operations. Demand remains resilient, particularly for well-maintained machinery with a clear provenance and we expect this trend to continue through the remainder of the year.”
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For further media information, please contact Sophie Richardson, PR Manager at Cheffins, [email protected]