German farm machinery makers enjoyed strong demand in 2011, according to the VDMA (the German equivalent of the UK's Agricultural Engineers Association). It reports that German machinery manufacturers increased their turnover in 2011 by 27% to 6.98bn(5.79bn). That followed a downturn in sales in 2009-10, preceded by a strong year in 2008. "The speed with which the orders received by agricultural machinery manufacturers climbed again surprised us. A year ago we did not anticipate such a significant upswing," says VDMA managing director, Dr Bemd Scherer. Tractor sales accounted for a total of 3.41bn (2.83bn), 49% of total German farm machinery production. A total of 60,600 tractors rolled off the assembly lines, 19% more than in the previous year. Aquarter of the tractors had engine power outputs above 150hp.
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