A difficult year 2018 for the agricultural sector

Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, proceeded to the first estimates of the economic accounts for agriculture in Belgium for the current year, in collaboration with regional authorities and experts.

• In 2018, the agricultural sector's net value added has dropped by almost a third compared to 2017.
• Beets and potatoes in particular have suffered from this year's drought, as confirmed by the first yield estimates.
• Animal production value has also decreased, particularly in the pig industry.

The year 2018 was characterized by a production decrease in the agricultural sector of 4.3 % in value and by an increase of intermediate consumption of 2.1 %. The estimated net value added is therefore 25.1 % lower than the average for the period 2013-2017.