News 2009

After a record year in 2008, the worldwide market for agricultural machinery suffered significant declines in some areas. The VDMA (German Engineering Federation) estimates that industry turnover dropped by 25% in 2009. Highly volatile markets for agricultural products along with the worldwide financial crisis and recession created uncertainty in the minds of farmers causing them to hold back on investment. Against this background, the sales of the CLAAS Group declined 10.4% to €2.9 billion. Profit before tax was €112.3 million. Although this was 54.7% below the value from the previous year, this still represents a respectable result within the industry. Furthermore, CLAAS was able to maintain or even improve its market position in important markets.

When it comes to narrow-width tractors used in fruit and wine growing, farmers have very different requirements. In recognition of this, the new NEXOS range from CLAAS not only offers high performance and economy, but also comes with a wide range of equipment options.

CLAAS has unveiled two new XERION models at the Agritechnica Show, the largest of which boasts a power output in excess of 500hp. XERION 5000 named ‘Machine of the Year’.

CLAAS has introduced a new compact and powerful range of tractors, the ELIOS, which has been developed to meet the requirements of smaller tractor users, such as livestock farmers, vegetable growers and smallholders.