Croatia's Food Price Disconnect: Global Trends Fail to Register

Global food prices have reached their highest level in three and a half years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In July, cereal prices rose by around 3 to 4 percent compared with June, with wheat prices jumping 5.8 percent. However, Croatian farmers say domestic prices have remained largely unchanged.

Croatian Chamber of Agriculture member Mato Brlošić noted that the price of wheat in Croatia has remained at the same level for over two decades, and corn prices are similarly unaffected by global trends. Corn production is expected to decline this year due to a combination of factors.

Not all food commodities became more expensive; milk prices fell by 0.7 percent, while meat prices dropped by 2.8 percent in July. However, Croatian consumers report seeing little evidence of these changes at home.

Adviser Zvjezdana Blažić pointed out that the decline in meat prices is largely due to an oversupply on the European market, where African swine fever has led to a decrease in pork production.