Cattle prices drive 29% increase in agricultural operating surplus
Overall, the value of Livestock increased by 25% (€1.2bn) to a €5.9bn total in 2025. File picture
Preliminary estimates of the agricultural operating surplus have seen an increase of 29% or €1.2bn in 2025, bringing the total to €5.5 bn.
According to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures, the value of agricultural output at basic prices rose by 12% (€1.5bn) to €14.0bn in 2025. The increase was driven mainly by higher cattle prices, which rose by 43%.
Milk also saw a 10% increase in milk value, with the CSO citing the higher volumes, an increase of 7%, as the main driver.
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, statistician in the Agricultural Accounts and Production Section of the CSO, said: “Despite volumes falling by 5%, the value of cattle was up by €1.1bn to €4.2bn.”
Overall, the value of Livestock increased by 25% (€1.2bn) to a €5.9bn total in 2025. Horse values grew by 14%, an increase of €48m, resulting in a total of €384m. Poultry values rose by €22m or 9% to €259m.
Despite larger volumes of pigs, which increased by 3%, the prices, which lowered by 5%, resulted in the overall value of pigs falling by €11m or 2% to €699m. Pigs were the only category of livestock that experienced weaker prices.
According to the CSO, there was no significant drop in Sheep values, despite an increase in the price of 7%; a corresponding drop in volumes occurred in the 2025 figures.
The crop value fell by 4%, the equivalent of €103m, to a total of €2.7bn. Cereal values dropped by €13m as a 10% increase in volumes was counteracted by lower prices of 12%. ‘Other’ crops accounted for an additional €54m of this drop.
The price of Forage Plants was down by 3%, and their value decreased by 2% (€37m) to €1.6bn.
These figures, including the higher value of Contract Work (€18m) and payments of subsidies less taxes on products (+€31m), resulted in the €14bn value of agricultural output at basic prices in 2025.
Intermediate costs are estimated to have risen by 2% (€190m) to €7.9bn. A 5% increase in fertiliser prices combined with higher volumes, an increase of 16%, resulted in their cost growing by €132m to €733m.
The cost of feeding stuffs is estimated at €2.2bn up by €73m due to the combined impact of higher volumes, up 6%, and lower prices, down 2%.
Expenditure on energy and lubricants is estimated to have decreased by 1% (€7m) to €602m due to the lowered prices in 2025.
