Hungary: Lousy prices, deteriorating trade in the cattle sector

Exports and slaughter are decreasing, while imports have increased enormously, which does not bode well for the foreign trade balance. In addition, the producer price of slaughter cattle is record low this year. Based on data from the KSH, Hungary's live cattle exports in January-November 2023 were 16 percent lower than the same period in 2022. In contrast, imports of live cattle increased by 33 percent. The volume of beef exports also fell significantly: by 17 percent, and its value by 20 percent. The volume of beef imports decreased by 12 percent and the value by 5 percent in the period in question. According to the data of AKI PÁIR, the producer price of young bulls was HUF 801/kilogram of carcass warm weight in January 2024, which is 2 percent higher than in January 2023. The price of the slaughter heifer decreased by 13 percent and the price of the slaughter cow by 29 percent during the period under review. The monthly producer price of slaughter cattle has always been much ...