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Cyprus’ Industrial Output Prices Decline By 1.9% In 2024 Amid Sectoral Shifts

Industrial production costs in Cyprus saw a 1.9% decline in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service (CyStat). The latest data reflects a broader economic trend of stabilizing prices across key sectors, despite fluctuations in specific industries.

The Index of Industrial Output Prices for December 2024 stood at 122.3 units (base 2021=100), marking a 0.1% month-on-month increase from November. However, on an annual basis, the index recorded a 1.5% drop compared to December 2023.

Sectoral Performance: Stability And Declines

  • Electricity supply saw the sharpest decline, with prices plunging 10.5% year-on-year.
  • Mining and quarrying posted a 0.7% increase, while manufacturing rose by 0.9%.
  • Water supply and materials recovery remained stable year-over-year but recorded a 0.3% monthly increase in December.

Manufacturing Trends: Growth In High-Tech And Consumer Goods

Despite the overall decline in industrial prices, several manufacturing divisions experienced growth:

  • Furniture, electronics, and textiles saw notable increases, with the manufacture of furniture, other manufacturing, and machinery repair rising by 4.7%.
  • Electronic and optical products grew by 4.3%, while paper and printing increased by 3.5%.
  • Pharmaceuticals and chemicals saw a 2.0% uptick, reinforcing the strength of Cyprus’ chemical production sector.

Conversely, declines were observed in:

  • Rubber and plastic products (-0.6%)
  • Basic metals and fabricated metal products (-0.6%)
  • Other non-metallic mineral products (-0.1%)

Looking Ahead: Economic Implications

The drop in industrial output prices suggests lower production costs for businesses, potentially easing inflationary pressures. However, sector-specific gains—particularly in manufacturing, technology, and pharmaceuticals—signal resilience in high-value industries. The continued decline in electricity prices could further impact industrial production costs, shaping economic conditions in 2025.

With Cyprus’ industrial landscape evolving, businesses will need to adapt to shifting cost structures and market dynamics to remain competitive in the coming year.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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