Cyprus records sharpest fall in farming costs across EU

Cyprus recorded one of the sharpest declines in agricultural input prices in the European Union during the fourth quarter of 2025, highlighting easing cost pressures for farmers on the island.

According to Eurostat, the average price of goods and services consumed in agriculture in Cyprus fell by 2.6 per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, representing the largest decrease among EU member states during the period.

Across the European Union, the average price of agricultural output at the farm gate declined by 1.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter in 2024.

This decrease followed three consecutive quarters of price increases recorded earlier in 2025, according to the Eurostat data.

At the same time, the average price of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture across the EU remained unchanged compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.

These goods and services include inputs not related to investment, such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs.

Eurostat also reported that input prices remained relatively stable throughout 2025, indicating limited overall cost fluctuations for farmers across the bloc during the year.

In terms of agricultural output, prices declined in 15 EU countries during the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting broad downward pressure in many markets.

The sharpest fall was recorded in Belgium, where agricultural output prices dropped by 12.9 per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.

Lithuania followed with a decline of 8.2 per cent, while Germany recorded a decrease of 6.0 per cent over the same period.

In contrast, agricultural output prices increased in 12 EU countries, demonstrating differing trends across the bloc.

The largest increases were observed in Ireland, where prices rose by 6.8 per cent, followed by Slovenia with 5.6 per cent and Malta with 4.2 per cent.

Regarding the cost of agricultural inputs not related to investment, prices declined in 11 EU countries during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The largest decreases were recorded in Cyprus at 2.6 per cent, Belgium at 2.1 per cent and Sweden at 2.0 per cent.

In the remaining EU countries, input prices increased, with the strongest rises seen in Lithuania at 4.2 per cent, Ireland at 3.3 per cent and Romania at 2.5 per cent.

At the European Union level, milk prices fell by 4.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter of 2024, reflecting shifts in agricultural commodity markets.

Similarly, cereal prices dropped by 8.9 per cent during the same period, marking one of the most significant price decreases among major agricultural products.

Among the goods and services consumed in agriculture, fertilisers and soil improvers recorded a price increase of 7.9 per cent across the EU.

However, other key inputs moved in the opposite direction. Eurostat reported that feedingstuffs prices declined by 2.7 per cent, while energy costs fell by 1.7 per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.