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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Increase of agricultural producer prices accelerates further in August

As crop products prices were up by 13%, the rise of agricultural producer prices accelerated, which thus as a whole were 6.7% higher in August than a year earlier. Fruits prices rose outstandingly (by 46%), mainly due to peach and plum, both representing a significant weight in this period. Then again, live animals and animal products became 3.9% cheaper on average, for the procurement price of slaughter pigs was cut as a result of the market situation having changed owing to the epidemic.

Agricultural producer and input prices, 1st half 2020

Agricultural producer prices were up by 6.5% in the 1st half of 2020 compared to the 1st half of the previous year. Within this, the price rise of live animals and animal products (8.9%) was more substantial than that of crop products (5.2%). The increase of the former was primarily due to the price rise of pigs for slaughter, and that of the latter mainly to the price increase of fruits. There was a smaller rise in input prices (0.2%) than in producer prices, so agricultural terms of trade went on improving.

Growing demand for domestic wines abroad too

Wine-growers produced 3.2 million hectolitres of cask wine, drawn off once, in Hungary annually on average between 2015 and 2019. The larger part (2.8 million hl) of the production was sold, and nearly one-third of this was bought by foreign buyers. Export demand made up larger and larger quantities in the last few years, but own consumption represented a considerable proportion (11%) as well. 494 thousand tonnes of grapes were gathered in in 2015–2019 on average, the predominant part of which was accounted for by wine-grapes.

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.

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.

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.