Agriculture

Agricultural statistics aims at assessing the performance of agriculture. In connection with crop production the statistical domain takes account of the utilisation, rent and sales price of productive land, and the sales of produced products. It also includes data on livestock and the production and sales of animal products. The effects of agriculture on the environment are substantially influenced by the technology used in production, so the statistical domain covers data for example on organic farming and the use of plant protection chemicals. A farm structure survey as well is made at intervals of several years, in which the number, size and labour input of holdings are surveyed.

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Significant increase in fruit prices

Since July 2018, agricultural producer prices have been rising steadily. In April 2020, agricultural products became significantly (13%) more expensive than in the same period of the previous year, mainly due to higher prices for crop products (+16%) as well as live animals and animal products (+6.6%). Fruit prices rose significantly (by 74%) due to a rise in apple prices, which played a key role in sales during this period.

Turnaround in the pigs for slaughter procurement price trend

The price of pigs for slaughter decreased by 5.3% in April 2020 compared to the record level of the previous month, even so it surpassed by 21% the April 2019 level. Characteristically pigs for slaughter procurement price grew since spring 2019 due to the African swine fever epidemic, however coronavirus pandemic related marketing problems already occurred in April this year. Due to the latter procurement price for ducks for slaughter decreased by 7.3% to HUF 302 year-on-year, last time it was lower than at present occurred in December 2016.

Livestock, 1 December 2019

More cattle, about as many chickens and fewer sheep and pigs were held in Hungary on 1 December 2019 than a year earlier. Larger quantities of slaughter cattle and chickens, cow's milk and hen's eggs for human consumption and smaller quantities of slaughter sheep and pigs were procured in 2019. The average procurement price of different live animals and animal products changed differently. The price rise was the highest for slaughter pigs (22%) and the price decrease for slaughter ducks (–3.0%).

Harvest results of main crops, 2019

The precipitation in May had a beneficial effect on the harvest results of ear cereals, but the draught in the middle of summer had an unfavourable influence on the yield of most arable crops harvested in autumn. Of the main vegetables less was produced than in 2018. The quantity of apple and sour cherry largely decreased because of extreme weather impacts and the base effect of the outstanding production in 2018. Hungary still has an important role in maize and sunflower production in the EU.

Agricultural producer and input prices, 2019

Agricultural producer prices were up by 5.4% in 2019 compared to the previous year. The price rise of live animals and animal products (7.7%) was more substantial than that of crop products (4.1%). Cereals prices were unchanged, the price of potatoes, vegetables and fruits rose significantly. The price of live animals increased by a tenth, within which pig prices by 22%. Input prices went up less than producer prices (by 3.5%), the value of the agricultural terms of trade was 101.8%.

Performance of agriculture, 2019 (Economic accounts for agriculture, 2019 – second estimate)

The output of agriculture in Hungary has grown at current prices since 2012, reaching HUF 2,789 billion in 2019. Crop production contributed to the performance by 57% and livestock production by 36%, the volume of output of the former was smaller, that of the latter larger than in the previous year. Gross value added was up by 3.0%. Labour input in agriculture went on shrinking. Hungary’s agriculture made up roughly 2.0% of the EU’s agricultural output in 2019, similarly to the previous year.

Procured quantity of cow's milk increasing again after two years

Cow’s milk has a key role in our meals. 2.1% more of it was procured from agricultural enterprises in 2019 than in the previous year. With this the volume – following a decrease of two years – rose again, reaching the highest level in the past few years. The protein and fat content of milk hardly changed in the meantime. Of major dairy products except for butter more was produced in 2019 than a year earlier, a significant increase was measured in the total weight of produced cream, as well as cheese and curd.

Value of output rises, Performance of agriculture, 2019 (first estimate)

The total value of output of agriculture increased by 3.1% in 2019. The contributors to this were a 0.7% decrease in the volume of production and a 3.8% rise in producer prices. The volume of crop production lessened by 2.3%, while that of livestock production increased by 1.7% and the volume of services by 1.0%. The production of agricultural products stagnated or went down except for cereals, live animals and potatoes.

Sown area of main crops, 1 June 2019

Productive area, covering nearly 79% of the area of the country, was 7,319 thousand hectares on 1 June 2019, 36.5 thousand hectares smaller than a year earlier. In addition to the withdrawal of arable land areas from production, the area of smaller-share kitchen gardens shrank by 15%. The area of orchards increased by 449 hectares, and more than three times that turned productive compared to 2018. The share of cereals continued to grow in the crop structure.

Performance of agriculture, 2018 (Economic accounts for agriculture, 2018 – second estimate)

The volume of output of crop and livestock production both increased in 2018, so the output of agriculture became 3.6% higher than in 2017. The volume of intermediate consumption grew by 1.8%. Gross value added went up, however, labour input was reduced. In terms of real factor income per work unit, Hungary was ranked among the best-performing EU countries.