Farm trade gap in 2008 sinks to smallest figure since 2001
Czech farm trade gap sank by more than Kc9bn year-on-year to over Kc23bn in 2008, which was the best result since 2001, according to data provided to CTK by the Agricultural Association of the Czech Republic.
The figures are based on customs statistics of the Czech Statistical Office (CSU).
The agricultural trade has been in deficit continuously since 1993.
The Czech Republic last year exported Kc106.9bn worth of agricultural commodities, food, drinks and tobacco products, which was Kc10bn more than the year before.
Agricultural imports amounted to Kc130.1bn, around Kc800m more than in 2007. Since 2003 the imports have grown by Kc56bn, while exports have more than doubled from Kc48.7bn registered in 2003, a year before the Czech Republic’s entry into the EU.
Both oilseed and grain trade showed the best results, each group posting a surplus exceeding Kc5bn.
Trade in milk, eggs and honey recorded a surplus of over Kc4bn.
Surplus in tobacco trade exceeded Kc3bn.
The biggest gap of more than Kc9bn was registered in meat trade, which was mainly caused by growing imports of pork.
"In 2008 we imported meat for an incredible Kc14bn, while in the years before EU entry we had imported meat worth Kc2bn annually," association chairman Miroslav Jirovsky said.
Hand in hand with the growing pork imports, domestic pork production is falling. Last year it dropped by 7 percent year-on-year.
Pig numbers in the Czech Republic last year reached the lowest figure since 1948. Experts expect this falling trend to continue this year.
Trade in fruit and nuts posted a deficit exceeding Kc9bn. A significant gap was also registered in trade in vegetables (Kc6.8bn).
The Czech Republic’s total foreign trade showed a surplus of Kc69.4bn for last year, down by Kc18.5bn compared with 2007
Development of the Czech Republic’s agricultural foreign trade
Year surplus/deficit (in Kc billions)
2003 - 25.2
2004 - 32.0
2005 - 25.0
2006 - 34.2
2007 - 32.4
2008 - 23.2
Source: Agriculture Ministry’s "green reports",
