Tractor Failure: Agricultural Machinery Production in Russia Plunged by 40%

Personnel shortage and capacity utilization are the main reasons for the production decline

Russian enterprises reduced tractor production by 40.5% in January-May 2026 compared to the same period last year, Rosstat reported. A total of 2004 tractors were assembled in five months, with 367 units in May, which is 36.3% less than April figures. Seeder production fell by 2.6% to 3850 units. In May, their output increased by 6.4% year-on-year (to 781 units), but decreased by 31.1% compared to April.

The main reason for the decline is a personnel shortage. Between 10 and 17 percent of enterprise managers reported negative assessments of staff shortages. High capacity utilization (62%) also plays a role, preventing enterprises from increasing output without additional investment.

According to Rosstat, in 2025, Russian factories produced 6766 tractors – 20.6% less than in 2024. Seeder production decreased by 1.8% over the same period. The decline continued in 2026, with the rate of decrease accelerating.

Read more on the topic: