Informations Rapides · 27 September 2024 · n° 252

In August 2024, the fall of agricultural producer prices softened year on year Indices of agricultural prices - August 2024

In August 2024, the fall of agricultural producer prices softened year on year (‑0.2% after ‑3.5% in July). Over one month, agricultural producer prices without seasonality – excluding fruits and vegetables (including potatoes), cut flowers and potted plants – continued to go down (‑0.8% after ‑1.1% in July).

Agricultural input purchase prices fell year on year for the sixteenth consecutive month (‑3.9% in August, after ‑2.0% in July). Over one month, they dropped by 0.9% (after ‑0.1% in July).

In August 2024, cereal prices continued to drop over one month (‑7.3% after ‑5.0% in July and +0.6% in June), due to forecasts of world’s abundant harvest. The fall in prices was general: those of soft wheat dropped by 7.8% (after -5.6%) and those of maize by 6.9% (after ‑1.5% in July). Year on year, the fall in cereal prices intensified (‑12.4% in August, after ‑10.1% in July and ‑1.4% in June).

Oilseed prices fell back over one month in August 2024 (‑2.3% after +2.2% in July). Rapeseed prices fell back (‑4.5% after +3.8%), while those of sunflower continued to speed up (+3.0% after +2.1%). Year on year, the fall in oilseed prices softened (‑0.8% in August, after ‑2.0% in July).

In August 2024, fresh vegetable prices sped up year on year (+10.3% after +6.9% in July and ‑0.9% in June). Prices bounced back firmly for melons (+32.4% after ‑13.8% in July). They sped up markedly for cucumbers (+46.5% after +14.6%) and moderately for red beetroots (+24.0% after +20.8%) and mushrooms (+8.2% after +7.8%). They slowed down markedly for leeks (+8.8% after +51.9%) and moderately for tomatoes (+22.5% after +25.3%). They fell back firmly for zucchinis (‑41.5% after +17.6%), fresh beans (‑12.4% after +10.7%) and more moderately for salads (‑3.4% after +6.2%). The fall in prices softened for artichokes (‑16.0% after ‑28.7%), cabbages (‑13.0% after ‑23.9%) and carrots (‑1.7% after ‑4.4%), and intensified for eggplants (‑11.7% after ‑7.6%).

In August 2024, fresh fruit prices bounced back firmly year on year (+9.7% after ‑1.8% in July and ‑4.3% in June). Prices sped up firmly for apricots (+41.8% after +24.9% in July) and plums (+27.7% after +15.4%) and bounced back for peaches and nectarines (+15.1% after ‑11.7%). Pear prices continued to go down (‑16.2% after ‑18.2%), due to upwards harvest forecasts compared to 2023.

In August 2024, animal prices slowed down over one month (+0.2% after +0.4% in July). They bounced back for poultry (+1.1% after ‑0.3%), continued to speed up for large cattle (+1.7% after +1.1%) and to slow down for calves (+0.4% after +0.7%). They fell back for pigs (‑3.7% after a stability in July). Those of sheep were nearly stable (+0.1% after ‑2.5%).

Year on year, animal prices went down in August 2024 for the twelfth consecutive month (‑1.2% after ‑2.7% in July). Even if the fall of prices was substantial, it softened for poultry (‑9.2% after ‑11.5%) and pigs (‑7.6% after ‑8.6%). Conversely, prices sped up for calves (+5.4% after +4.3%) and large cattle (+2.4% after +1.1%), and continued to rise for sheep (+13.4% after +12.7%).

In August 2024, egg prices fell back over one month (‑4.4% after +6.9% in July). Year on year, they bounced back (+2.4% after ‑4.0%).

Milk prices went down slightly over a month (‑0.2% in August, after a stability in July). Prices of cow milk were nearly stable (‑0.1%, as in July). Those of goat milk went up slightly (+0.2% after +0.3%). Year on year, milk prices slowed down (+0.5% after +0.8% in July).

In August 2024, purchase prices of intermediate consumption fell over one month (‑0.9% after ‑0.1% in July). The fall of prices intensified for energy (‑5.2% after ‑1.1%) and fertilizers and soil improvers (‑0.8% after ‑0.5%). Prices of animal feed fell back slightly (‑0.2% after +0.2%). They rose for seeds (+0.3% after ‑0.1%) and for the maintenance of materials (+0.3% after +0.4%). They were nearly stable for plant protection products (+0.1% after ‑0.3%) and stable for the maintenance of buildings (after +0.2%), small equipment and tools (after +0.5%), veterinary expenses (after +0.3%), and the “other goods and services” (after +0.1%). Year on year, purchase prices of intermediate consumption dropped for the seventeenth consecutive month (‑5.0% in August, after ‑2.8% in July).

In August 2024, the prices of investment goods fell back over one month (‑0.6% after +0,1% in July) and were stable year on year (after +0.4% in July).

The year-on-year percentage change of the global index of producer prices for agricultural products in July 2024 has been revised upwards by 0.2 percentage points to ‑3.5%. The year-on-year percentage change of the global index of the purchase prices of inputs for agricultural production in July 2024 has been revised upwards by 0.1 percentage points to ‑2.0%.