Decline in Agricultural Prices and Its Impact on Plant and Animal Products from March to June 2024
The Producer Price Index for Agriculture (PPI-A) experienced an 11.6% drop in agricultural prices for the second quarter of 2024, from March to June. Statistics Mauritius reported that the PPI-A fell from 213.2 points in March to 188.5 points in June
The index tracks two subgroups: “Agricultural Products” and “Animals and Animal Products.” Within plant products, there are further divisions: “Sugar Cane” and “Other Plant Products.” The “Other Plant Products” significantly affect both the “overall” index and the “Plant Products” subgroup, representing 34.7% and 62.0% of their respective weights.
The Sugar Cane index reached 318.8 based on the final sugar price for the 2023-2024 agricultural campaign, showing a 21.1% increase compared to the previous period.
In contrast, the “Other Plant Products” index dropped from 220.8 points in March 2024 to 148.9 points in June 2024, marking a 32.6% decrease. This drop mainly resulted from a 46.6% fall in the cost of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, and vines. However, an 11.1% increase in the cost of fruits and nuts, like pineapples, partially offset this decline.
In March 2024, the “Animals and Animal Products” subgroup had an index of 156.5. By June 2024, it had risen to 156.9 points. This increase was primarily due to higher prices for deer (+13.8%), cattle (+1.0%), and eggs (+0.1%).
