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Cyprus Agriculture 2024: A Strategic Engine In The European Food Chain

Overview Of Cyprus Agricultural Output

Cyprus’ agricultural sector generated €426.04 million in gross value added in 2024, according to Eurostat. Although agriculture represents a relatively small share of the national economy, the sector continues to play a stable role in supporting rural activity and local production.

Insights From Eurostat’s Report

The figures appear in Eurostat’s December 2025 publication Key Figures on the European Food Chain, which tracks the agricultural value chain from production to consumption. The report evaluates value creation across farming, processing, distribution, trade, and environmental impact.

Comparative Analysis Across The EU

Across the European Union, agriculture accounted for 1.2% of GDP in 2024, slightly up from 1.1% in 2009. Countries with higher agricultural weight in their economies included Greece (3.2%), Romania (2.5%), and Spain (2.3%), reflecting stronger reliance on primary production.

Shifting Dynamics Within Member States

Eurostat data show that 15 EU member states recorded increases in the agriculture-to-GDP ratio. Greece registered the largest rise, followed by Latvia and Spain. Declines were observed in Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, and Croatia. In Cyprus, agriculture remains a smaller share of GDP but continues to generate measurable economic value for rural regions.

Broader Context And Economic Impact

At the EU level, the gross value added at basic prices for agriculture was recorded at €222.82 billion in 2024, compared to €246.95 billion in 2025. These figures, presented in millions of euros, capture the scale of agricultural output across the bloc. They also serve as a reminder that even in countries where agriculture represents a minor fraction of GDP, such as Cyprus, the sector plays a crucial role in sustaining economic and rural prosperity.

Conclusion

In summary, the 2024 data reflects not only the dynamic nature of the EU agricultural sector but also the ongoing importance of farming as a structural pillar within various national economies. Cyprus, despite its lower relative share, continues to harness significant economic benefits from its agricultural landscape, ensuring that its rural communities remain economically vibrant.

EU Services Production Grows As Information And Communication Lead

Services production continued to expand across the European Union in August 2026, with information and communication recording the strongest annual growth. However, performance varied significantly between industries and member states, while Cyprus reported a mixed picture, with business services expanding and hospitality-related activities declining.

Information And Communication Leads Sector Growth

Compared with August 2025, services production increased by 5.9% in the euro area and 5.8% across the EU in information and communication. Transportation and storage also recorded growth, rising by 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.

Real estate activities increased by 1.6% in the euro area and 1.1% in the EU. Professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 1% in both areas, while administrative and support services advanced by 1.1% and 1.3%.

Accommodation and food services was the only major sector to record an annual decline, falling by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU.

The monthly figures were more mixed. Information and communication remained the strongest performer, increasing by 1.2% in the euro area and 1% across the EU. Real estate activities rose by 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while transportation and storage edged up 0.1% in the euro area but declined by 0.2% in the EU.

Administrative and support services recorded modest gains of 0.2% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU. Accommodation and food services fell by 0.3% and 0.4%, while professional, scientific and technical activities declined by 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively.

Slovakia And Greece Record Strongest Annual Growth

Romania recorded the largest monthly increase in services production, at 5.2%, followed by Malta at 1.8% and Portugal at 1.7%. Luxembourg experienced the steepest decline, with output falling by 5.1%, followed by Bulgaria at 2.3% and Denmark at 1.9%.

On an annual basis, Slovakia led with growth of 10%, followed by Greece at 9.3% and Malta at 7.5%. Hungary recorded the weakest performance, with services production declining by 5.6%. Denmark fell by 5.3%, while Italy recorded a smaller decrease of 0.3%.

Cyprus Sees Growth In Business Services But Weakness In Hospitality

Cyprus’ latest figures show a similar divide between expanding business services and weaker hospitality-related activities. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), professional, scientific and technical activities recorded the strongest annual growth among the covered sectors in the second quarter of 2026, increasing by 3.4%.

Transportation and storage and information and communication both grew by 2.1%, while real estate activities rose by 1.6%. In contrast, accommodation and food services declined by 3.1% year on year, and administrative and support services fell by 2.2%.

First-half results were more favourable for several sectors. Between January and June, professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 3.5%, transportation and storage by 2.8%, real estate by 2.1% and information and communication by 1.3%.

Nevertheless, administrative and support services contracted by 1% over the six-month period, while accommodation and food services declined by 0.7%.

How Cyprus’ Figures Differ From Eurostat’s Data

The Eurostat and Cystat figures measure different aspects of economic activity and are not directly comparable. Eurostat’s services production index tracks changes in the volume of output, whereas Cystat’s Turnover Value Index for Services and Transport measures the value of sales at current prices.

The reporting periods also differ: Eurostat’s figures cover August, while the cited Cypriot data relate to the second quarter and first half of 2026.

Cystat transmits services production data to Eurostat but does not yet publish a separate national production index. Turnover figures therefore remain the main publicly available national indicator for the sector.

Taken together, the data point to continued growth in several of Cyprus’ business-oriented services, alongside persistent pressure on accommodation, food and administrative support activities.

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