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Cyprus Strengthens Maritime Ties With Oman And Qatar

Cyprus is expanding its global maritime footprint as Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis embarks on an official visit to Oman and Qatar for high-level discussions on maritime cooperation and industry growth.

Hadjimanolis will first travel to the Sultanate of Oman on Saturday at the invitation of Saeed bin Hamoud bin Saeed al Maawali, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology. During her visit, she will engage in bilateral meetings with senior government officials and representatives from Asyad, Oman’s state-owned shipping company.

A key milestone of the visit will be the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Cyprus and Oman, aimed at strengthening maritime transport collaboration.

Following her engagements in Oman, Hadjimanolis will head to Qatar, where she will attend the Seatrade Maritime Qatar Exhibition & Conference 2025 at the invitation of Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani. In Doha, she will hold bilateral discussions with Qatari officials and participate in industry meetings to further promote Cyprus’ position as a global shipping hub.

These diplomatic efforts underscore Cyprus’ commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation in the Gulf region, reinforcing its status as a leading player in global shipping.

EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.

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