Food industry sales prices at record levels

Output prices in the food industry rose by 17.3 percent in March this year. This is the biggest price increase since the start of the current publication series in 2012. Until 2020, the prices of the food industry have developed quietly. From 2021 onwards, however, prices started to rise and there is no end in sight. All branches of the food industry are participating in the rise. This is evident from an analysis of recent CBS data by our editors.

Total industry more than 25% more expensive

Products in the total industry became on average 25.9 percent more expensive in March compared to March last year. Output prices rose most in the petroleum industry (+106.1 percent), the basic metal industry (+47.1 percent) and the chemical industry (+38.5 percent). Prices in the wood and paper industry also rose substantially in March (20.2 and 24.4 percent respectively). With a price increase of 17.3 percent, the food industry remained below the average price increase in the industry in March.

Food oils and fats industry price leader 

The most substantial price increase in March this year was recorded by the edible oils and fats industry (+33.8 percent). The feed industry followed with a price increase of 27.4 percent. The flour industry (+21.2 percent) and the slaughterhouses and meat products industry (+17.8 percent) also had higher than average selling prices in March. The least expensive products in March were those of the bread and pasta industry (+5.5 percent), the fruit and vegetable processing industry (+9.7 percent) and the fish processing industry (+11.7 percent).

Food retail prices rose more for domestic customers

Output prices in the food industry rose in March, especially for domestic customers. On average, products became 19.1 percent more expensive for customers in the Netherlands and 15.5 percent more expensive for foreign customers. The differences were particularly large in the dairy industry (+16.8 percent for domestic customers and +12.6 percent for foreign customers), the bread and pasta industry (+6.4 percent versus +2.7 percent) and the animal feed industry (+29.1 percent versus +24.3 percent).