Rostselmash Suspends 15,000 Employees as Agricultural Machinery Sales Plummet

Russia’s leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, Rostselmash, announced on Friday that it will place all 15,000 of its staff on leave for June due to a sharp decline in exports and an ongoing contraction in the market.

Located in Rostov-on-Don near the Ukrainian border, the company pointed to a significant decrease in demand over the last three years, which has compelled it to reduce both production volumes and its workforce.

According to Rostselmash, sales figures for combine harvesters plummeted by 76%, forage harvesters by 49%, and articulated tractors by 48% from January-April 2021 to the same period in 2025.

In March, the company implemented a temporary four-day workweek, followed by the layoff of 2,000 employees last month.

«The financial situation for farmers has deteriorated, making it nearly impossible for them to invest in necessary equipment, thus drastically shrinking the market. The unfavorable outlook has only intensified in 2025,» stated the firm.

Rostselmash, which has export operations in 20 countries, characterized the scheduled June leave as a shifted annual vacation, typically occurring in August or September.

The company reported a staggering 130% year-on-year decline in net income from the previous year, which fell to 6.9 billion rubles ($85.3 million), with overall revenue decreasing by nearly 20 billion rubles to 78.3 billion ($965 million).

«Rostselmash continues to keep an eye on developments within the agricultural machinery sector,» the company noted, emphasizing its readiness to react should there be an increase in demand.