Tractor makers set for record sales in FY18

Low duties, loan waivers, normal monsoons should help tractor companies beat their FY14 sales

With multiple tailwinds helping them, tractor makers Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) and Escorts are set to post strong sales in FY18. Reduction in goods and services tax (GST) rate for tractor parts and fertilisers, normal monsoons, farm loan waivers and steps to boost the rural economy would translate to higher demand for tractors. The sector, which posted an 18 per cent growth in FY17 to 5.82 lakh units, would need to grow at 9 per cent to overcome the record of 6.34 lakh units in FY14. On the back of a 12 per cent growth, Credit Suisse analysts, Jatin Chawla