In 2021, agricultural output in the EU was valued at €449.5 billion (bn) in basic prices, representing an increase of 8% compared with 2020. This change stemmed from an increase in the price for agricultural goods and services as a whole (an estimated +7.5%), with volume of output remaining little changed from 2020 (an estimated +0.8%).
This information comes from the economic accounts for agriculture (EAA) for 2021 published by Eurostat today. This news item presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article. Eurostat will also publish the first estimates of the EAA for the year 2022 on 19 December 2022.
Almost three quarters of the value of the EU’s agricultural output in 2021 came from seven Member States; these were France (€82.4 bn, equivalent to 18% of the EU total), Italy (€61.2 bn, or 14%), Germany (€59.2 bn, or 13%), Spain (€57.1 bn, or 13%), the Netherlands (€30.6 bn, or 7%), Poland (€27.9 bn, or 6%) and Romania (€21.1 bn, or 5%).
Source dataset: aact_eaa01
A majority of the EU Member States registered a rise in the value of agricultural output in 2021 compared with 2020. The sharpest rates of increase were recorded in Bulgaria (+37%), Romania (+25%) and Czechia (+16%). By contrast, the values of agricultural output in Finland, Malta and Cyprus remained broadly unchanged in 2021 from their respective levels in 2020, and decreased in Denmark (-2%) and Slovenia (-4%).
Among other key Member States, the value of agricultural output increased by 10% in Spain, 8% in France and the Netherlands, 6% in Italy and Poland, and 3% in Germany.
A little more than half (55%) of the value of the EU’s agricultural output in 2021 came from crops (€248.7 bn, +13% compared with 2020). A little more than one third (36%) came from animals and animal products (€163.1 bn, + 3% compared with 2020). The remaining share came from agricultural services and secondary activities.
EU agricultural input costs not related to investment (intermediate consumption) were 10% higher in 2021 than in 2020.
The changes in the value of agricultural output and intermediate consumption in 2021 resulted in a 6% rise in the gross value added generated by agriculture.
For more information:
- Statistics Explained article on the performance of the agricultural sector
- Dedicated section on agricultural statistics
- Database on agriculture
- All publications on agriculture
Methodological notes:
- The value of agricultural output comprises the values of crop production, animal production, and "other items" i.e. agricultural services (for example, the processing of agricultural products, or agricultural contract work) and it is inseparable non-agricultural secondary activities (for example, certain agritourism activities).
- Values at basic prices are values at producer prices from which taxes on products have been subtracted and subsidies on products have been added. Unless otherwise stated, all values are calculated using current prices and exchange rates.
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