Agriculture - 4 quarter and year 2014

There were 115 244 tonnes of meat produced in Q4 2014. The production increased by 1.2%, year-on-year (y-o-y), out of that amount beef increased by 2.5%, pigmeat by 1.1%, and poultrymeat by 0.8%. Milk collection increased by 3.3% to 576 076 thous. litres.
The year 2014 featured a slight growth in the meat production, being concrete in beef by 1.1%, in pigmeat by 0.7%, and in poultrymeat by 0.8%. On the contrary, prices of agricultural producers of meat declined at cattle for slaughter by 1.0%, pigs for slaughter by 1.3%, and poultry for slaughter by 2.3%. In the case of milk both collection and agricultural producer prices grew by 1.3% and 13.1%, respectively.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q4 2014 the number of slaughtered cattle accounted for 59 268 heads; it increased by 3.0%, y-o-y. An increase was recorded in all categories of cattle except for heifers (−5.3%). The total beef and veal production amounted to 17 257 tonnes. It grew by 2.5%, y-o-y and by 8.4% compared to that of Q3 2014.
The number of slaughtered pigs went down to 663 900 heads, i.e. by 1.0%, y-o-y. The pigmeat production, however, increased by 1.1% to 59 869 tonnes due to a higher average weight of slaughtered pigs (+2.1%). It increased by 2.9% compared to that of Q3 2014.
The poultry meat production reached 38 057 tonnes and was by 0.8% higher than that in Q4 2013.

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs, and chicken for slaughter
In Q4 2014 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter increased by 3.6%, y-o-y, for bulls only. Prices of other categories of cattle dropped by 5.2% for calves, by 2.2% for cows, and by 0.5% for heifers. The average price of bulls for slaughter was CZK 45.95 per kg of live weight and CZK 83.64 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter dropped by 12.7%. Producers sold pigs for slaughter for average prices of CZK 30.97 per kg of live weight and of CZK 39.80 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter declined by 0.6%, y-o-y. The average price of chicken for slaughter of the first quality class was CZK 23.80 per kg of live weight.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q4 2014 dairies collected 576 076 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers, i.e. by 3.3% more than in Q4 2013.
Agricultural producer prices of milk stayed almost the same (+0.5%) y-o-y. Producers sold milk of Q quality class for the average price of CZK 9.08 per litre.

The year 2014 – Production, agricultural producer prices, and external trade
In 2014 the meat production amounted to 451 186 tonnes, which was by 0.8% more than in 2013. This amount of meat included 65 529 tonnes of beef and veal (+1.1%), 235 991 tonnes of pigmeat (+0.7%), 189 tonnes of sheepmeat (+6.2%), of which 146 tonnes of lamb (+15.1%), 3 tonnes of goatmeat (−8.9%), 64 tonnes of horsemeat (−6.9%), and 148 174 tonnes of poultrymeat (−2.9%).

Cattle and beef
In 2014 the beef and veal production reached 64 529 tonnes (+1.1%). A growth was recorded in bulls (+7.5%), conversely, the meat production decreased in cows (−4.7%) and in heifers (−10.0%).
Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went up for bulls (+0.8%) and decreased for calves (−13.0%), cows (−4.3%), and heifers (−0.9%). Farmers sold bulls for slaughter for average prices of CZK 45.90 per kg of live weight and CZK 83.53 per kg of carcass weight (the minimum price of CZK 81.89 per kg was recorded in January, and the maximum one of CZK 84.21 per kg in April).
According to provisional results, external trade¹⁾ in live cattle in the period from December 2013 to November 2014 showed a positive balance 70 249 tonnes. Exports accounted for 71 371 tonnes (+4.4%), imports amounted only to 1 122 tonnes despite their year-on-year growth by 82.1%. The structure of exports changed in favour of animals intended for further rearing (107.3 thous. heads; +17.4%) and for breeding (8.3 thous. heads; +5.9%) while in exports of cattle for slaughter there was a decline by 2.6% (79.6 thous. heads). Traditionally, the main trade partner for exports of live cattle was Austria.
As for external trade¹⁾ in beef, imports exceeded exports by 15 652 tonnes. Imports rose to 23 273 tonnes (+11.1%) while exports declined to 7 621 tonnes (−2.7%). Beef was imported mainly from Poland, although its amount decreased by 13.7%, y-o-y, followed by the Netherlands (+33.4%), Germany (+32.6%), and Ireland (+54.8%). Exports of beef went mostly to Slovakia (+6.9%).

Pigs and pigmeat
In 2014 the pigmeat production increased to 235 991 tonnes (+0.7%).
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter declined by 1.3%. The producers sold pigs for slaughter for the average prices of CZK 33.00 per kg of live weight and CZK 42.40 per kg of carcass weight (the minimum price of CZK 38.11 per kg was recorded in December, the maximum one of CZK 45.44 per kg was recorded in July).

The balance of external trade¹⁾ in live pigs in the period from December 2013 to November 2014 was positive (+8 752 tonnes). In total 19 714 tonnes (−7.0%) of live pigs were imported and 28 466 tonnes (+17.2%) were exported. In imports of piglets a year-on-year decline was recorded (to 308.9 thous. heads; −17.9%), their exports increased (40.4 thous. heads; +71.3%) and higher exports of pigs for slaughter were measured (230.7 thous. heads; +17.4%). Live pigs were imported from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands and they were exported to Slovakia, Hungary, and Germany.
The negative balance of external trade¹⁾ in pigmeat deepened to −196 530 tonnes; there were 238 901 tonnes (+5.9%) imported and 42 371 tonnes (−0.2%) of pigmeat exported. Pigmeat came mainly from Germany (+7.1%), Spain (+18.5%), and Poland (+9.1%): Dominant position in exports belonged to Slovakia (−11.1%).

Poultry and poultrymeat
In 2014 the poultrymeat production rose by 0.8% to 149 410 tonnes.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter were by 3.5% lower compared to those in 2013. The average price of chicken for slaughter in the first quality class was CZK 23.86 per kg of live weight (the minimum price of CZK 23.00 per kg was recorded in February, the maximum one of CZK 24.74 per kg in January).
External trade¹⁾ with live poultry in the period from December 2013 to November 2014 reached a positive balance of 39 601 tonnes, of which imports amounted to 4 181 tonnes (−33.1%) and exports to 43 782 tonnes (+4.8%). Compared to the previous year there was a distinct change in the trade with one-day old juveniles. In total there were 13 263 thous. heads (−28.5%) of both chicks for meat and for eggs imported and 101 318 thous. heads (+29.3%) exported. Imports of poultry for slaughter declined as well except ducks whose trade in both flows was three times higher, although at a negligible amount. Live poultry was imported mostly from Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary; it was exported to Poland, Slovakia, and Germany.
External trade¹⁾ in poultrymeat showed a negative balance (−65 604 tonnes). Both imports and exports stayed at the same level, y-o-y; in total there were 95 417 tonnes of poultrymeat (+0.1%) imported and 29 814 tonnes of poultrymeat (−0.6%) exported. The largest amount of poultrymeat came from Poland (+15.4%) but also from Brazil (−32.4%) and Hungary (−25.5%); exports went mainly to Slovakia (+4.3%).

Milk and milk products
In 2014 dairies collected 2 350.7 million litres of milk (+1.3%).
The average price of milk of the Q quality class was CZK 9.50 per litre and rose by 13.1% (the minimum price of CZK 9.01 per litre was recorded in December, the maximum one of CZK 9.81 per litre was recorded in April).
In external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products, exports surpassed imports distinctly by 691 095 tonnes. The trade rose in both directions; imports went up to 273 134 tonnes (+7.3%) and exports to 964 228 tonnes (+7.2%). Imports rose in milk and cream (+0.4%), yoghurts and acidified milk products (+1.9%), and cheese and curd (+4.3%), while, on the contrary, they slightly decreased in butter (−1.3%). Exports of cheese and curd were almost the same as in the previous period (+0.4%); exports increased in milk and cream (+9.4%) and butter (+26.7%) and decreased in yoghurts and acidified milk products (−8.6%). The most important partners in trade in milk and milk products were Germany (+12.1%; exports +18.8%) and Slovakia (imports +12.9%; exports +7.2%); in case of imports it is also Poland (−5.3%) and in case of exports it is Italy (−12.4%).
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¹⁾ Intrastat does not include individual trading operations carried out by persons who are not registered for VAT as well as reporting units below the applicable thresholds of CZK 8 million a year for both flows are not under reporting duty for Intrastat.


Notes:
Published data are final, except for external trade data.
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz
Source: Livestock Slaughtering (Czech Statistical Office), Agricultural Producer Price Indices (Czech Statistical Office), External Trade Database (Czech Statistical Office), data on milk collection and poultry purchase (Ministry of Agriculture of the CR)
End of data collection: 9 January 2015
End of data processing: 27 January 2015
Following tables: http://www.czso.cz/csu/2014edicniplan.nsf/p/270127-14
http://www.czso.cz/csu/2014edicniplan.nsf/p/011033-14
Date of the next News Release publication: 30 April 2015