OREANDA-NEWS  According to the results of the first quarter, the production of agricultural machinery in Russia collapsed by 36.8 percent, to 42 billion rubles, sales fell by 15 percent, to 32.4 billion rubles, and exports — by 14.5 percent, to 4.7 billion rubles. Kommersant writes about this with reference to Rosspetsmash data.

The association indicated that the only category that showed an increase in shipments to the domestic market were self-propelled combines (up 3.1 percent, 498 units). Balers (minus 74.7 percent, 71 units) and mowers (minus 62 percent, 264 units) showed the most serious drop. Sales of tractors also decreased by 15.7 percent, to 598 units, by 42 percent — fertilizer machines, to 80 units, and by 24.7 percent — cultivators, to 24.7 units.

Analysts interviewed by the publication state that the reason for the continued decline in sales and production was the lack of demand from farmers who do not have the means to upgrade.