In the first quarter of 2023, agricultural prices within the European Union increased by 2.6%, marking a sustained growth trend for the second consecutive quarter, according to a report from Eurostat.

The report also notes that prices for goods and services used in agriculture, excluding investment costs, rose by 0.2%.

This increase represents the first rise in average input prices in agriculture since the beginning of 2023.

In agricultural terms, inputs refer to all materials, resources, and services necessary for production that are not associated with long-term investments, such as machinery or facilities.

These inputs include energy, mineral and organic fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed, seeds and planting materials, as well as veterinary services and medicines.

Changes in the prices of these inputs directly impact overall production costs and, indirectly, the prices of final products.

Among the main agricultural products, the most significant price increases were observed in milk, which rose by 12.6%, followed by eggs with a 10.7% increase, and grains with a 9.6% rise.

Conversely, certain products saw considerable price decreases.

Olive oil recorded a decline of 43.5%, followed by a 13.4% decrease in the price of potatoes and an 11.2% drop in pork prices.

Among the 23 EU member states, the most significant price increases were reported in Ireland (19.3%), Luxembourg (15.6%), and Hungary (14.6%).

In contrast, prices fell in Spain by 9.7%, in Greece by 7.1%, in Portugal by 2.8%, and by 2% in Malta.

Regarding agricultural inputs not linked to investments, 14 EU countries reported an increase in prices in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year.

The largest increase in input prices was noted in Hungary (6.8%), the Netherlands (6.2%), and Romania (5.8%).

Conversely, the most significant price reductions for inputs were recorded in Lithuania (5%), Cyprus (3.8%), and Latvia (3.6%).