Producer prices of agricultural products were 2.6% higher in April 2021 than in April 2020. As the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) further reports, the price decline for animal products was again offset this month by the 11.5% price increase for crop products compared with April 2020. Compared to the previous month of March 2021, prices increased by 1.0% overall.
Photo: Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 2021
Prices for cereals and crops up 20%
As in the previous month, the price increase for crop products in April 2021 was mainly due to higher prices for cereals (+20.4% compared with April 2020). In March 2021, the change there was even slightly higher, at +25.2% year-on-year. One reason for the increase could be the continuing high demand from abroad.
For vegetable and horticultural products, the price increase in April 2021 compared with April of the previous year was 16.1%. Once again, this was due among other things to higher prices for plants and flowers (+20.3%). This development was due to a shortage of supply and high demand, presumably caused by Corona. In vegetables (+13.5%), prices rose in particular for tomatoes (+42.6%), whose season started in April. The widespread start to the asparagus season was accompanied by a 7.6% drop in prices compared with the same month last year. Last year, supply was tight due to the Corona-related restrictions on harvesting; in addition, sales to the food service sector were even more severely curtailed than in the current year, which had led to a higher price level in 2020.
For table potatoes, on the other hand, prices have already been falling year-on-year since September 2019, with April 2021 prices 54.5% and March 2021 prices 53.4% lower than in the same month last year. The main reason for this is likely to be the lack of demand from the food service industry and commercial kitchens. In addition, the extensive supply due to the higher harvest volume compared to the previous year could also play a role.
For more information:
Statistisches Bundesamt
Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 11
65189 Wiesbaden
Telefon: +49 611 75 0
E-Mail: post@destatis.de
Web: www.destatis.de/