An Albanian has the highest spending on eggs and milk in Europe in relation to income, among the most expensive prices

An Albanian individual spends an average of 267 euros a year on eggs, milk and cheese, according to data published in the Eurostat data system.

Compared to other countries in the region, nominal costs for these products are the highest in the region.

Serbs spend 163 euros on the same products, or 40% less. Northern Macedonia spends 198 euros, Montenegro 263 euros and Bosnia and Herzegovina 249 euros. The data refer to 2020, while Kosovo is not included in these statistics.

In relation to gross domestic product, spending on these products is the highest in Europe, at 5.8% of GDP, much higher than the European Union average of 1%. Second after Albania is Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 4.9% of GDP, followed by Northern Macedonia, with 3.8% of GDP.

But, more than high consumption, the increased costs turn out to come from the more expensive prices of these products, even though they are almost domestically produced. According to Eurostat data, Albania's price level index for the group of eggs, milk and cheese in 2020 compared to the European Union average (with 27 countries) was 109, which means that domestic consumers buy these products 9% more expensive than in most European countries.

While in the region, eggs, milk and cheese are cheaper in Northern Macedonia, with an index of 78.1, or about 22% less than the EU average and 31% cheaper than in Albania. In Montenegro the index is 91, in Serbia 94.1 and Bosnia 82.5. Thus, Albania is the only country in the region where households buy these basic products more expensive than the European Union average, although their income is as much as 30% of the EU average.

Industries in difficulty

The dairy processing industry in Albania, for several years is facing great difficulties in the market, causing a part of the milk processing companies to go bankrupt or to be in financial difficulties, due to various problems, lack of livestock support schemes, the unfavorable VAT scheme, the promotion of imports, increased export barriers, the poor quality of farm milk, the informal market and rising costs in recent weeks from supply constraints stemming from Russia's attack on Ukrainian.

For a long time and systematically, this industry has raised its voice regarding the real capacities of livestock farms, which are not able to meet the needs of dairy processing plants, both in terms of quantity, quality, including food security.

Sipas INSTAT, në vitin 2020, prodhimi i qumështit te fermat ishte 1,05 milionë tonë, me një rënie prej 5,4% krahasuar me vitin 2019. Sasia e qumështit të grumbulluar për përpunim në vitin 2020 raportohet të jetë rreth 119 mijë tonë, ose 11% e sasisë së qumështit të prodhuar në ferma, duke shënuar rënie me 14,8% krahasuar me vitin 2019.

Industria e përpunimit të qumështit furnizohet me qumësht lope në një sasi rreth 897 mijë tonë, ose 85% e qumështit të prodhuar në ferma. Pjesa tjetër e furnizimit është e ndarë pothuajse në mënyrë të barabartë midis qumështit të deleve dhe qumështit të dhive (rreth 76 mijë tonë). Vetëm 22% e qumështit për konsum shitet në treg formal, 33% e baxhove rezultojnë të formalizuara, 15% e fermave kanë NIPT.

The egg production industry in recent weeks, in addition to rising costs of raw materials and energy is suffering from the consequences of bird flu, which has so far led to the death of 350 thousand chickens. In the country, according to INSTAT there are a total of 5 million chickens. So far, 7% of them have been damaged./Monitor