The value of Malta’s agricultural output declined marginally in 2025, while higher operating costs pushed down the sector’s gross value added, despite increases in the physical production of cattle, eggs, potatoes, fruit and vegetables.
According to the latest figures published by the National Statistics Office, the total value of agricultural output reached €141.8 million in 2025, a decline of 0.1% over the previous year.
At the same time, intermediate consumption — the goods and services used by farmers during production — increased by 0.9% to €87.9 million. As a result, the gross value added generated by Malta’s agricultural sector fell by 1.7% to €53.9 million.
The decline in the overall value of agricultural output was mainly driven by livestock meat and crops.
The value of livestock meat output fell by 1.8%, while the value of crop production declined by 0.2%. These decreases were partly offset by a 1.4% increase in the value of animal products, such as milk and eggs, and a 2.8% increase in products generated through secondary agricultural activities.
The NSO’s Economic Accounts define output as the total value of agricultural produce generated during the year, meaning that changes in producer prices can cause output values to rise even when physical production falls, and vice versa.
Separate volume data published through Eurostat show considerable differences between individual agricultural products.
Cattle output increased by 7.1% in 2025, while pig output remained practically unchanged, increasing by just 0.17%.
Poultry moved sharply in the opposite direction, with output falling by 8.8%. Rabbit production also declined during the year, adding to the weaker performance of parts of Malta’s livestock sector.
Overall animal-production volume declined by 0.9%. Sheep and goat production fell by 0.61%, while milk production declined by 2.9%.
Egg output, however, increased by 4%.
Crops performed considerably better when measured in physical volume.
Overall crop-output volume increased by 8.5%, despite the monetary value of crop output falling by 0.2%.
Fruit recorded one of the strongest increases, with production volume rising by 29.1%, while potato production increased by 25.4%.
Fresh vegetable production increased by 2.9%.
Tomatoes were an exception to the generally stronger crop-production figures, with production falling by 7.4% during the year.
The divergent figures highlight the impact of prices on Malta’s agricultural accounts: substantially more of some products was produced in 2025 without necessarily generating an equivalent increase in the monetary value of agricultural output.
Farmers were also faced with higher production costs.
Other operating expenses increased by 3.2%, crop-cultivation expenditure rose by 2.7%, while expenditure on energy and fuel increased by 1%.
Livestock feeding costs provided some relief, declining by 0.8%.
Labour costs increased much more sharply. Wages and salaries paid by agricultural holdings rose by 10.6% to €9.5 million.
Consumption of fixed capital, which measures the depreciation of machinery, equipment and other productive assets, declined by 0.6% to €7.1 million.
Government and European Union financial support to the sector also increased.
Total assistance from EU-funded programmes and government initiatives rose by 4.7%, from €27.4 million in 2024 to €28.7 million in 2025.
Despite the increase in financial support, the sector’s net operating surplus declined by 0.7% to €66 million.
After taking into account negative net property income of €1 million, Malta’s agricultural sector recorded net entrepreneurial income of €65 million, also down 0.7% from the previous year.
The figures ultimately show a mixed picture for Maltese agriculture in 2025. Physical production increased substantially in areas such as cattle, fruit, potatoes, vegetables and eggs, but declined in poultry, rabbits, milk, sheep and goats and tomatoes.
Meanwhile, the total monetary value of agricultural output remained virtually stagnant at €141.8 million, while production costs continued to increase and gross value added fell by 1.7%.
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