Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
76. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage increase in the cost of farm fertiliser in each of the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46377/23]
View answerThe table below sets out the latest available CSO Agricultural Price Index for fertilisers which covers the period August 2021 to August 2023:
I am happy to share what is a detailed table with the Deputy after this engagement.
|
Date |
|||
|
Aug-21 |
100.2 |
Sep-22 |
231.6 |
|
Sep-21 |
104.3 |
Oct-22 |
238.9 |
|
Oct-21 |
120.8 |
Nov-22 |
238.8 |
|
Nov-21 |
123.2 |
Dec-22 |
236.8 |
|
Dec-21 |
147.7 |
Jan-23 |
232.2 |
|
Jan-22 |
179.9 |
Feb-23 |
223.1 |
|
Feb-22 |
193.4 |
Mar-23 |
209.9 |
|
Mar-22 |
216 |
Apr-23 |
180.3 |
|
Apr-22 |
250.8 |
May-23 |
160.0 |
|
May-22 |
248.6 |
Jun-23 |
131.8 |
|
Jun-22 |
232.8 |
Jul-23 |
126.5 |
|
Jul-22 |
226.5 |
Aug-23 |
125.6 |
|
Aug-22 |
228.2 |
|
|
As can be seen above, August 2023 fertiliser prices were some 25% higher than the corresponding date back in August 2022. However, it is clear that there has been a consistent and significant reduction in fertiliser prices during the course of 2023. The latest price index is at a level approximately 50% of prices in April 2022 when the initial effects of the Ukraine war had started filtering through to fertiliser price and availability. In the last year, prices have dropped 45%.
