The total price index of agricultural output in 2017 increased by 11.6% YoY, which was mainly due to the rise in prices of livestock products by 25.8%. The price index of crop products grew by 2.2%.
Increase in the price index of livestock products was mainly affected by significant rise in milk prices. The average purchase price of milk rose by 42.6%, from 215 EUR per ton in 2016 to 306 EUR in 2017. In 2016 the lowest purchase prices of milk since 2010 were recorded, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Compared to 2016 in 2017 the average purchase price of meat grew by 2.5, from 1492 EUR per ton to 1529 EUR. The most notable increase was recorded in purchase prices of beef and veal – of 11.5%, reaching 1782 EUR per ton, while the average purchase price of pork rose by 7% and of mutton by 1.3%, constituting 1504 EUR per ton and 3400 EUR respectively.
The average purchase price of poultry fell by 0.5%, from 1689 EUR per ton to 1681 EUR.
The average purchase price of eggs went up from EUR 6.25 to EUR 7.15 per 100 eggs or by 14.4% YoY.
Compared to 2016 in 2017 the average purchase price of grain grew from 132.3 EUR per ton to 143.6 EUR per ton. Rise in the average purchase price of grain (of 8.6%) was influenced by higher grain quality.
Compared to the year before, increase was registered also in prices of vegetables as well as fruit and berries – by 29.2% and 22.9%, respectively. (BNN/Business World Magazine)