Irish agricultural output prices recorded the second-steepest decline in the EU in Q2 2026, new figures show, highlighting a sharp fall in the value farmers received for their produce.

A new Eurostat data released today (Thursday, September 10) shows that while the average price of agricultural output in the EU fell by 5.8% year-on-year, Irish prices fell by 16.2%.

This was second only to Denmark, which saw a decrease of 17.2% year-on-year.

According to Eurostat, this was a third consecutive quarter of decline for the EU, following a period of relative price stability throughout 2025 into Q1 2026.

Output prices

In Q2 2026, 20 EU member states saw year-on-year decreases in the average price of agricultural outputs.

After Denmark and Ireland, the sharpest declines were of 14.5% in both Latvia and Estonia, and 14.2% in both Luxembourg and Lithuania.

At the other end of the scale, the largest increases were in Croatia and Malta (+3.9% each), and Cyprus (+3.5%).

Among the key agricultural output products, there were sharp declines in the average price of milk in the EU (-16.6% year-on-year) and cereals (-5.6%).

Input costs

According to Eurostat, the average price of agricultural inputs (goods and services consumed in agriculture, such as energy, fertilisers or feedingstuffs) increased by 4.7% in Q2 2026.

During that period, all EU member states experienced an increase in the price of inputs.

The highest rates of increase were in Lithuania (+16.4%), Romania (+11.7%), and Latvia (+9.7%).

The lowest rates of increase were in Hungary and Portugal (+1.2% each) and Malta (+1.5%).

Among the key agriculture inputs, the average price of energy and lubricants in the EU rose by 22.0% and that of fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 13.4%.

CSO

New Central Statistics Office (CSO) data also paint a picture of falling retail prices for food products.

Figures published today (September 10) show that average retail prices for butter, steak and potatoes fell in the year to August 2026.

The national average price for 2L of full fat milk was down 9c in the year, while a pound of butter fell by 55c.

The average price of Irish cheddar decreased by 67c/kg.

The national average price of 1kg of sirloin steak fell by 12c in the year, while the average price for 2.5kg of potatoes was down by 7c.

The national average price for an 800g loaf of white or brown sliced pan was down 2c in the year to August 2026.

Meanwhile, CSO prices division statistician, Anthony Dawson added that the national average price for a litre of diesel in August 2026 was €1.95, an increase of 25c on the same month last year.

Petrol prices increased by 15c to €1.87 a litre.