April 24, 2012

Estonia's beef purchase price up 16.7% in March

Compared with the same month a year ago, Estonia's wholesale purchase price of beef in March grew 16.7% to EUR2.03 (US$2.67) per kilogramme, Statistics Estonia said.

The price of beef climbed 1.6% on month. Pork fetched on the average EUR1.729 (US$2.28) per kilogramme in March, 9.1% more than in March a year ago. Compared with February an increase of 4% took place in the purchase price of pork.

The price of mutton and goat's meat paid to farmers dropped 3.4% on year to EUR2.882 (US$3.8) per kilogramme. In comparison with February the price was lower by 4.8%.

The average purchase price of milk in March was EUR327.04 (US$431) a tonne, marking an on-year increase of 1%. Compared with February the price was 0.5% lower.

Dairy companies bought 55,100 tonnes of milk from farmers during the month, compared with 53,500 tonnes in March a year ago and 50,400 tonnes in February.

In March 30,400 pigs, 2,100 heads of cattle and 400 sheep and goats were purchased from farmers, compared with respectively 31,000, 2,800 and 300 in March 2011.