The preliminary estimate of Agricultural Operating Surplus for 2025 indicates that it increased by 29% (+€1.2bn) to €5.5bn.
The value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices rose by 12% (+€1.5bn) to €14.0bn in 2025, driven largely by a 43% increase in cattle prices.
Milk contributed an additional 10% (+€402m) to the value of Agricultural Output, bringing its value to €4.5bn.
The value of crops fell by 4% (-€103m) to €2.7bn, primarily due to lower prices (-6%).
The value of Livestock rose by 25% (+€1.2bn) to €5.9bn with Cattle accounting for €1.1bn of this growth.
Cattle prices grew by 43%, and when combined with lower volumes (-5%), their value increased to €4.2bn.
Pig values fell by 2% (-€11m) to €699m due to weaker prices (-5%). With both higher volumes (+5%) and prices (+4%), the value of Poultry rose by €22m to €259m.
While the information available on the cost of many items of Intermediate Consumption is still limited, it is currently estimated that these costs grew by 2% (+€190m) to €7.9bn in 2025. Fertilisers accounted for the bulk of this increase, as higher prices (+5%) and volumes (+16%) saw their cost rise by €132m to €733m.
The figures for 2025 are preliminary estimates which are provisional and based on the latest available data. These figures are subject to change once the complete set of data for the full year becomes available. Updated figures for 2025 will be published in the Final Estimate in June 2026.
| Table 1.1: Output, Input and Income in Agriculture, 2022–2025 | ||||||||
| € million | Annual Change (%) | |||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
| Goods Output | 12,310 | 10,807 | 11,739 | 13,209 | -12.2 | 8.6 | 12.5 | |
| Intermediate Consumption | 7,903 | 7,972 | 7,682 | 7,872 | 0.9 | -3.6 | 2.5 | |
| Net Subsidies | 1,952 | 1,642 | 2,048 | 2,092 | -15.9 | 24.7 | 2.1 | |
| Operating Surplus | 4,771 | 2,714 | 4,290 | 5,537 | -43.1 | 58.1 | 29.1 | |
| Entrepreneurial Income | 4,177 | 2,002 | 3,473 | 4,744 | -52.1 | 73.5 | 36.6 | |
| X-axis label | Goods Output | Intermediate Consumption | Net Subsidies | Operating Surplus | Entrepreneurial Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12.310253140208 | 7.90293162311042 | 1.95181223415686 | 4.77055501264094 | 4.17739748971376 |
| 2023 | 10.8065650324728 | 7.97194255646959 | 1.64188259988243 | 2.71353830701084 | 2.00178153344581 |
| 2024 | 11.7385321034149 | 7.6820436276987 | 2.04780381219994 | 4.29010287794833 | 3.47273869004891 |
| 2025 | 13.2094498167547 | 7.87177002539309 | 2.09158435814153 | 5.53728656105006 | 4.74379365008725 |
The CSO’s second estimate of Agricultural Operating Surplus shows that it grew by 29% (+€1.2bn) to €5.5bn in 2025. The main reason for this increase was higher (+43%) cattle prices.
The value of Cattle grew by 36% (+€1.1bn) to €4.2bn as higher prices (+43%) negated the impact of lower volumes. Pigs were the only category of livestock that experienced weaker prices (-5%), although the full impact of these lower prices was partially offset by a 3% increase in volumes. As a result, the value of Pigs was down by €11m to €699m. At €386m, there was minimal (-€1m) drop in Sheep values, as higher prices (+7%) were matched by a corresponding fall in volumes. A 14% increase in Horse prices resulted in their value increasing by €48m to €384m. Higher prices (+4%) and volumes (+5%) saw the value of Poultry rise by €22m to €259m. Overall, it is estimated that the value of Livestock grew by 25% (+€1.2bn) to €5.9bn in 2025.
With final areas, yields and prices still outstanding for most crops, the current estimate is that their value dropped by 4% (-€103m) to €2.7bn. Cereals contracted by 3% (-€13m) to €368m due to lower prices (-12%). The price of Forage Plants was down by 3% and their value decreased by 2% (-€37m) to €1.6bn.
The above changes combined with the higher value of both Contract Work (+€18m) and payments of Subsidies less Taxes on Products (+€31m) resulted in the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices rising by 12% (+€1.5bn) to €14.0bn in 2025.
Intermediate Consumption costs are estimated to have risen by 2% (+€190m) to €7.9bn, although it should be noted that this estimate is based on limited data on the cost of many inputs. A 5% increase in Fertiliser prices combined with higher volumes (+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 (+6%) and lower prices (-2%). Expenditure on Energy & Lubricants is estimated to have decreased by 1% (-€7m) to €602m due to lower prices in 2025.
With the value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices up by €1.5bn, Intermediate Consumption costs rising by €190m, Other Subsidies less Taxes on Production growing by €12m and Compensation of Employees costing an additional €96m, it is estimated that agricultural Operating Surplus increased by 29% (+€1.2bn) to €5.5bn in 2025.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (09 March 2026) published Output, Input and Income in Agriculture – Preliminary Estimates 2025.
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in Agricultural Accounts and Production Section of the CSO, said: “This release provides a second estimate of the value of agricultural outputs, inputs, and income for 2025. When interpreting these results it is important to note that some of the values used to prepare this set of accounts, particularly in relation to input costs, are still provisional and will be revised when we prepare our final estimates in June 2026.
Outputs
The value of Agricultural Output at Basic Prices grew by 12% (+€1.5bn) in 2025 and this increase was mainly driven by higher Cattle prices, which rose by 43%. Therefore, 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), with Horse values growing by 14% (+€48m) and Poultry values rising by 9% (+€22m). Despite larger volumes (+3%), lower prices (-5%) resulted in the value of Pigs falling by 2% (-€11m). There was no significant change in Sheep values, as while prices were up by 7% there was a corresponding drop in volumes. There was also a 10% (+€402m) increase in Milk values, due mostly to higher volumes (+7%).
The value of Crops fell by 4% (-€103m) to €2.7bn. Cereal values contracted by €13m, as a 10% increase in volume was counteracted by lower prices (-12%). Other Crops accounted for an additional €54m of this drop.
Inputs
Our current estimate is that Intermediate Consumption costs were up 2% (+€190m) to €7.9bn. It is however important to note that this estimate is based on incomplete data, with data on many costs still outstanding. Higher volumes (+16%) combined with rising prices (+5%) caused the cost of Fertilisers to grow by €132m to €733m. The cost of Feeding Stuffs rose by €73m to €2.2bn, as a 6% increase in volumes outweighted the impact of lower prices (-2%).
The net impact of these and other changes on our estimate of Operating Surplus for 2025 is an increase of 29% to €5.5bn.”