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Trade deficit declines an annual 18.5% in January-August

Cyprus’ trade deficit declined to €4.98 billion from January to August 2024, registering an annual reduction of 18.5% compared with €6.12 billion in the respective period of last year.

According to provisional data released by Cystat, total imports for January – August 2024 declined by 15.5% to €7.57 billion compared to €8.96 billion in the respective period of last year.

Total exports of goods in January-August 2024 amounted to €2.59 billion compared to €2.84 billion in January-August 2023, registering a decrease of 9%.

In August, total imports stood at €948.6 million as compared to €1.243,1m in August 2023, recording a decrease of 23%.

Imports from other EU Member States were €564.8m and from third countries €383.8m, compared to €692.4m and €550.7m respectively in August 2023.

Imports in August 2024 include the transfer of economic ownership of vessels and aircraft, with a total value of €38.8m as compared to €246.7m in August 2023.

According to Cystat, total exports of goods in August 2024 were €276.4m as compared to €422.8m in August 2023, recording a decrease of 34.6%.

Exports to other EU Member States were €70m and to third countries €206.4m, compared to €79.1m and €343.7m respectively in August 2023.

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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