Agriculture - 4th quarter and year 2019

 

In total 63.3 thous. head of cattle were slaughtered in abattoirs in Q4 2019, i.e. by 4.0% less, y-o-y, of which 27.1 thous. head were bulls (+0.1%), 26.7 thous. head were cows (−7.0%) and 7.2 thous. head were heifers (−3.9%). Production of beef amounted to 19 226 tonnes (−3.1%).The year-on-year decrease of the production was influenced by lower numbers of fattening bulls in the previous half-year, which were partly compensated by lower exports of animals for slaughter.

Slaughtering of pigs in Q4 2019 (596.0 thous. head) slightly decreased again (−1.6%, y-o-y) and the pigmeat production reached 53 914 tonnes (−2.1%). This decline resulted from slightly lower numbers of fattening pigs in Q3 2019.

According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, the amount of poultry slaughtered in Q4 2019 accounted for 65 501 tonnes, which represents 42 566 tonnes of poultrymeat (+0.5%).

 

Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter in Q4 2019 were slightly lower, y-o-y (−1.6%). Only slight drops were recorded for prices of bulls for slaughter (−0.7%), heifers (−0.8%) and cows (−1.2%), while those of calves for slaughter plummeted, y-o-y, by 24.2%. The average price of bulls for slaughter was 45.90 CZK per kg in live weight or 83.54 CZK per kg in slaughter weight.

The prices of pigs for slaughter in Q4 2019 surpassed the level of those of Q4 2018 by 31.4% and reached on average 35.74 CZK per kg in live weight or 46.46 CZK per kg in slaughter weight. The average price in slaughter weight increased by 1.97 CZK per kg in comparison to Q3 2019.

The prices of chicken for slaughter almost did not change, y-o-y (+0.2%). The producers sold chicken for slaughter of the first quality class on average for 23.27 CZK per kg in live weight.

 

According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, in total 736 053 thousand litres of milk (+3.7%) were collected from domestic producers in Q4 2019, of which 606 707 thousand litres (−0.2%) were purchased by dairies.

Agricultural producer prices of milk stayed at the same level as in Q4 2018 (+0.1). The producers sold Q-quality milk on average for 8.76 CZK per litre; i.e. by 0.14 CZK per litre more than in Q3 2019.

 

In total 238.8 thous. head of cattle (+1.0%) were slaughtered in abattoirs in 2019 and the beef production reached 72 892 tonnes (+1.8%). This slight increase in beef production resulted from decreased exports and higher imports of animals for slaughter, despite lower numbers of fattening animals.

Producer prices of cattle for slaughter in 2019 went slightly down, y-o-y (−2.7%), of which those of cows (−1.9%) the least and those of calves (−11.9%) the most. The prices of bulls for slaughter declined by 2.5% and those of heifers by 2.7%, y-o-y. The average price of fattened bulls was 46.15 CZK per kg of live weight or 84.00 CZK per kg of slaughter weight. The prices were stable during the course of the year; the difference between the minimum price (in September) and the maximum one (in February) was 1.75 CZK per kg of slaughter weight.

According to preliminary results of statistics of cross border movements^[1]) of live cattle in the period from December 2018 to November 2019, the turnover of cross border movements expressed in numbers went slightly up, y-o-y (+2.0%) but expressed in financial units it stayed almost unchanged (+0.3%) in connection with declined prices of exported calves. Imports of live cattle (5.3 thous. head) remained stably negligible compared to their exports (243.9 thous. head). Animals for further rearing prevailed in exports (170.8 thous. head), especially calves and young cattle; an increase was recorded for exports of animals for breeding. Exports of calves remained almost at the same level, y-o-y; in total 69.9 thous. head (−0.3%) were exported prevailingly to Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. Exports of young cattle amounted to 68.0 thous. head (+8.0%) and were directed to Turkey, Slovenia and Croatia. Exports of animals for slaughter went down to 73.1 thous. head (−7.1%); they went, traditionally, to Austria and Germany.

The deficit in the trade in beef slightly deepened, y-o-y. Imports of beef rose to 40 640 tonnes (+6.8%) and its exports to 12 725 tonnes (+10.3%). Imported beef came mostly from the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Ireland; exports were directed mainly to Slovakia but also to the Netherlands and to Poland.

 

In 2019, the number of pigs slaughtered in the Czech Republic was 2 300.6 thous. head (−0.4%) and the pigmeat production reached 209 604 tonnes (−0.6%). Lower number of fattening pigs  was compensated by decreased exports of pigs for slaughter; therefore, the year-on-year change was negligible. 

Prices of pigs for slaughter during 2019 steeply rose (+16.1%). While in Q1 2019 they were below the level of the previous year, they started to grow in April and this trend persisted until the end of the year. The average price accounted to 31.82 CZK per kg of live weight or 41.36 CZK per kg of slaughter weight. The difference between the minimum price (in March) and the maximum one (in December) was 13.27 CZK per kg of slaughter weight.

The statistics of cross border movements1) of live pigs showed a continuing trend of increasing active balance. Imports of live pigs plummeted, y-o-y, due to distinct decrease in imports of piglets (to 103.6 thous. head; −34.9%). They were imported, traditionally, from Denmark and Germany. On the contrary, exports of piglets went up to 173.0 thous. head (+26.4%) and they went to Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Austria and Romania. Almost no pigs intended for slaughter were imported and their exports dropped to 251.9 thous. head and 30 077 tonnes of live weight (−12.7%). Fattened pigs were exported mainly to Slovakia, Germany and Hungary.

The negative balance in the trade in pigmeat minutely improved, y-o-y, mainly because of year-on-year declined imports. In total 270 204 tonnes (−3.0%) were imported mostly from Germany, Spain, and also Poland and Belgium. On the contrary, only 28 147 tonnes (+0.6%) were exported, prevailingly to Slovakia.

 

According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, the amount of poultry supplied to slaughterhouses in 2019 accounted for 258 686 tonnes, which represents 168 044 tonnes of poultrymeat produced; i.e. by 2.3% more, y-o-y. 

The average agricultural producer price of chicken for slaughter in 2019 was slightly higher (+0.7%) than in 2018. It oscillated with small deviations during the whole year around the average value 23.18 CZK per kg in live weight; the minimum was recorded in August (22.28 CZK per kg) and the maximum right in September (24.12 CZK per kg).

The statistics of cross border movements1) in live poultry showed a positive balance both in day-old juveniles and in poultry for slaughter. Imports of day-old juveniles did not change, y-o-y, (7.8 million head; −0.1%) but their exports went down by 9.3% to 103.1 million head. A distinct decline was recorded in exports of ducklings. Day-old broilers were exported prevailingly to Slovakia, Romania and Poland, and female chicks of laying type to Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Russia. Exports of chicks and hens intended for slaughter showed a negligible year-on year decrease by 0.8% to 23 339 tonnes; however, it includes lower exports of fattened broilers and higher exports of culled hens for slaughter. These exports were directed to Slovakia and Poland. 

The negligibly decreased year-on-year deficit in the trade in poultrymeat was caused by slightly lower imports, although exports declined as well. During the observed period, in total 108 955 tonnes (−5.6%) were imported, mainly from Poland but also from Hungary; and 18 445 tonnes (−18.4%) were exported, prevailingly to Slovakia, Germany and Austria.

 

According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, the direct milk collection from domestic producers in 2019 accounted for 2 992.7 million litres (+1.3%), of which 2 497.1 million litres (−1.1%) were collected by diaries from producers and collection centres.

The average agricultural producer price of milk reached 8.85 CZK per litre of Q-quality milk (+2.7%). They fluctuated from 9.15 CZK per litre (in January) to 8.56 CZK per litre (in September) and they came close to the value 9 CZK per litre again at the end of the year.

Distinct surplus of cross border movements1) in milk and milk products went negligibly down, y-o-y, to 814 160 tonnes. Imports rose to 263 024 tonnes (+1.9%) while exports went down to 1 077 183 tonnes (−2.5%). Cheese and curd together with whey contributed to increased imports the most. As for exports, all commodities except whey recorded a decline. The main trade partners for milk and milk products were Germany and Slovakia for both directions together with Poland for imports and Italy for exports.