Farming machinery: Years-long delay for new parts and machines

Would you be willing to wait two years for delivery of a new tractor? You may not have a choice, as delivery times blow out.

Producers may have to wait until 2024 for delivery of new farming machinery, as wait times blow out due to ongoing shipping congestion and supply chain issues.

If you order a brand new piece of farming machinery today, you may find it’s not delivered until the year 2024.

Congestion across the shipping freight supply chain, such as vessels bunching up at port in quick succession, is plaguing the agricultural industry, as producers grow frustrated with blown-out wait times for new parts and products.

It comes as the road freight industry is already feeling the sting of increased fuel prices, adding another challenge for producers this season.

Freight Trade Alliance director Paul Zalai said port congestion was not as much of an issue as it was late last year since a number of industrial relations matters were addressed.

“It is now downstream congestion at depots and importer premises due to ‘vessel bunching’ ships arriving at port in quick succession,” Mr Zalai said.

“This has been worse on the Australian east coast due to the Port of Brisbane closure due to floods.”

While the Covid-19-related delays affecting the supply chain late last year have been “largely resolved”, Mr Zalai said the industry was bracing for congestion to continue to affect the supply chain for several more weeks.

“Things may ease as we enter winter which coincides with changed import requirements for some biosecurity risk treatments,” Mr Zalai said.

Farm Tender founder Dwain Duxson said producers were growing frustrated with lead times for new machinery, with some manufacturers talking 2024 delivery if you order now.

“But that’s not all. Most manufacturers have decent wait times,” Mr Duxson said.

Producers may have to wait until 2024 for delivery of new farming machinery, as wait times blow out.

“Parts are similar. Over harvest some of our customers deliberately bought older headers because they knew they would be able to get parts easier as opposed to newer versions.”

Mr Duxson said he estimated wait times have blown out “anywhere from three to nine months compared to late last year”, with factors such as access to components, shipping, and labour all playing a part in length wait times.

“The second-hand market is the go for many. We are flat out with demand outweighing supply,” Mr Duxson said.

“What we are seeing is a tipper trailer prices at $45,000 in 2019, that same trailer today would make $65,000. And what we see today is less haggling on price … buyers are more often paying the price the seller has the item listed for.

“Turnaround times on when an item s listed to when it sells have never been quicker.”