Household consumption expenditure on food last year was estimated at €557 million, the National Statistics Office said.

In a statement issued on the occasion of  World Food Day, being celebrated tomorrow, the NSO said  this yea’s theme is: ‘Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the cycle of rural poverty’.

Total agricultural production last year was estimated at 143,040 tonnes, an increase of 2.1 per cent over 2013. The production of vegetables amounted to 74,410 tonnes, an increase of 0.6 per cent over the previous year. It contributed to 52 per cent of total production.

Food expenditure incurred by private households was estimated at €557
million, an increase of 1.2 per cent over 2013. The share of household expenditure on food was estimated at 10.8 per cent of the total private expenditure in the domestic market.

There was an increase in household spending on most food items, ranging from 1.1 per cent on sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery items to seven
per cent on fish when compared to 2013.

Food inflation was 0.5 per cent, while the annual rate was 0.1 per cent. Food prices were higher mainly in respect of preserved and processed fruits, margarine and butter, chocolate, take away food and processed vegetables.

The value of imported foodstuffs stood at €514 million, an increase of 0.3 per cent when compared to 2013.

Malta’s food exports declined by seven per cent, to an estimated value of €197
million when compared to 2013. This was mainly due to a decrease in the exports of cereal products and fish.