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Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Agricultural output price index up 20.7% in the 12 months to May
In the 12 months to May of this year, the agricultural output price index rose by 20.7%. In the CSO's (Central Statistics Office) latest report, despite the rise over the past 12 months to May, compared to every month, the output price index dropped by 0.8% in the month since April. The most significant output price increases in the 12 months to May 2025 were in wool, milk and cattle. Wool has experienced an annual increase of 31.9%. However, this figure solely rides on the increase experienced from April to May of this year within the index. The wool output price index remained static at 106.3 for the last 11 months, only to jump to 140.2 in May 2025, contributing to an almost 32% increase. The IFA (Irish Farmers' Association) has said the sudden uptick occurring in May is the result of improved wool demand, with auction prices also up compared to previous months. These higher prices secured by farmers are only returning to them in recent months, in line with normal selling time and payment arrangements in place for some sellers. IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said: 'The increase in wool prices is a welcome move in the right direction, but there is still a journey for wool prices to travel to cover the shearing costs and leave a margin for the farmer.' Sheep have also received a 7% drop in the output price index in the 12 months leading up to May of this year. Cattle saw an annual increase of 48% in the output price. Cattle excluding calves increased by 47.5% and calves secured an increase of 123.9% with the output price index sitting at 116.7 in May 2024 and 261.2 in May of this year. Milk has also seen an annual increase of 14.2% in the output price index despite experiencing a 0.8% drop when comparing April and May of this year. Potatoes have received the most significant drop in the output price index, with potatoes (including seeds) dropping by 15.1%. Amongst other crops, cereals (with seeds) experienced an annual drop of 0.2%, vegetables a drop of 1% and 'industrial and forage' an increase of 3.4%. The agricultural input price index rose slightly by 0.1% in the 12 months to May but dropped by 0.2% when compared monthly to April. Commenting on the release, Senior Statistician in the Agriculture Division, Sam Scriven, said: 'Within the Input Price Index, Fertilisers rose by 10.2% while Motor Fuels (-8.0%), and Feeding Stuffs (-2.3%) were lower than in May 2024." Breaking down the fertiliser index further, straight fertilisers experienced the largest annual increase in the input price index, with a jump of 14%. On an annual basis, NPK fertilisers rose by 9.8%, compound fertilisers rose by 9.4%, NP and PK fertilisers rose by 3.8% and 'other' fertilisers experienced an increase of 1%. Veterinary expenses also rose by 4.7% in the 12 months to May. Although the input price for veterinary expenses has risen in the last 12 months, the price index has remained stationary at 120.3 since January. Terms of Trade fell by 0.6% in May 2025 when compared with the previous month and were 20.6% higher when compared with May 2024.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Cattle prices rise by almost half in past year, CSO figures show
Cattle prices jumped by close to half over the past year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) , as agricultural output prices increased by more than a fifth across the board. The CSO's agricultural output price index rose by 20.7 per cent in the past year, whereas its measure of input costs edged up by just 0.1 per cent in the 12 months to May 2025. Sam Scriven, a statistician in the CSO's agriculture division, noted that despite the increase year-on-year, output prices dipped slightly in May, 'decreasing by 0.8 per cent and the input pice index falling by 0.2 per cent'. The biggest jump was seen in cattle, with output prices rising 48 per cent over the past 12 months. READ MORE Irish Farmers Association livestock chairman Declan Hanrahan said the increase in cattle prices was down to pressure on the livestock industry from agricultural regulation and ageing farming populations, which are leading to lower livestock and slaughter volumes. He described the market for beef and cattle as 'buoyant' amid a lower supply of livestock noting 'strong demand' for beef and live exports from overseas markets. Wool prices increased by 31.9 per cent, while sheep outputs fell by 7 per cent. Among staples, milk prices rose 14.2 per cent but potato prices were 15.1 per cent down. While input prices overall were relatively stable, a significant cost increase was seen in fertilisers, with prices surging 10.2 per cent in the 12 months to May 2025. For livestock farmers, veterinary expenses increased by 4.7 per cent, while there was a 2.3 per cent reduction in the price of feed. Amid slightly lower global oil prices and improved supply conditions, there was a fall in the cost of motor fuels of 8 per cent. Terms of trade fell by 0.6 per cent in May 2025 when compared with the previous month and was 20.6 per cent higher when compared with May 2024.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cattle output price up almost 50% for April 2025
Cattle is the most significant output price increase in the last 12 months, with an increase of 48.9%. This result comes from the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) agricultural price indices report. Prices for cattle have been on the rise since July 2024, but significant increases have been seen since January. The CSO noted a monthly increase of 7.2% for cattle for April 2025. Cattle output price specifically for calves has seen an annual increase of 170% for April 2025. Cattle's annual percentage change in the last 12 months, excluding calves, has seen an increase of 48.4% in the output price index. Other significant increases in the output price index in the last 12 months were seen in milk with a rise of 18.7% and eggs, which saw a rise of 4.1%. Pigs have seen an annual change of 1.1% and poultry a 2.3% increase in the outprice index. The only decrease in the output price index for animals was seen in sheep, which experienced a decrease of 1.1% in the 12 months from April 2024. Wool output price has also seen no percentage change in the last year. The most significant figure for crops is a decrease in the output price for potatoes (including seeds), which saw a reduction of 9.3% in output price compared to April 2024 figures. Reductions for cereals (including seeds) and vegetables were also recorded by the CSO, with reductions of 0.2% and 2.9% respectively. Industrial and forage crops were the only crop outputs that saw an increase of 3.4% in annual percentage change. Commenting on the release, Sam Scriven, Senior Statistician in the Agriculture Division, said: "Agricultural prices rose in the month to April 2025 with the Agricultural Output Price Index increasing by 2.6% and the Input Price Index rising by 0.3%. Compared with April 2024, the Output Price Index has risen by 23.5%, while the Input Price Index has fallen by 1.0%.' Over the 12 months to April 2025, increases in the Input prices were recorded for fertilisers with an increase of 7.5%, veterinary expenses, which rose by 4.7%, and plant protection products with an increase of 3.8%. Straight fertilisers saw an annual increase of percentage change of 12.5% for April 2025. Compound fertilisers increased by 6.1%, NPK fertilisers increased by 6.8%, and NP and PK fertilisers experienced a reduction of 3.2%. Feeding stuffs have decreased by 4.9% in the last 12 months. Motor fuels dropped by 5.8%, but electricity increased by 1.3% in the input price index when compared to April 2024 figures. Terms of Trade rose by 2.3% in April 2025 when compared with the previous month and were 24.8% higher when compared with April 2024.
