The CSO's second estimate of operating surplus in agriculture in 2017 shows an annual increase of 35.2%. This increase is in line with the trends shown by other CSO short-term indicators in agriculture.

The main drivers of the change was the dairy sector output which increased from €1.7Bn in 2017 to €2.59Bn in 2017. This was largely due to milk output increasing by €809m in the year, with prices up by 32.8% and volume up by 9.4%

Further comparison of 2017 and 2016 figures shows the following changes in estimated values.

  • Goods output at producer prices increased by 13.6%, to reach €8,016m
  • The value of cattle output increased by 3.1% and is estimated at €2,352m. This is an increase of €70m over 2016, driven by improved prices (+1.8%) and a higher volume of production (+1.3%)
  • Pig output increased by 11.0% to reach €520m, mainly due to improved prices
  • Total intermediate consumption was 2.0% greater than in 2016 and is estimated to be €5,203m
  • Expenditure on commercial feeding stuffs increased by 5.6%, to reach €1,426m, mainly due to increase of 8.0% in the volume of consumption
  • Expenditure on fertilisers amounted to €513m in 2017, an increase of 0.8% on 2016. This was mainly driven by the 12.8% increase in the volume of consumption
  • The cost of energy and lubricants increased by 6.1% or €23m following a rise in oil prices

    • The value of other subsidies less taxes on production is estimated to have increased by 3.6% from €1,592m in 2016 to €1,650m in 2017. It should be noted that this figure only includes subsidies actually paid by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by year end.

    This release updates the Advance Estimate of Output, Input and Income in Agriculture published by the CSO in December 2017.

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