In 2006, households spent an estimated Lm221 million (EUR514.1 million) on food, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday, internationally marked as World Food Day.

In 2006, the NSO said, households spent Lm220.7 million on foodstuffs. Major items included meat – Lm49 million; bread and cereals – Lm47 million; dairy products – Lm32 million; and vegetables – Lm29 million. Last year, food consumption expenditure was estimated at 14.2 per cent of total private expenditure by final consumers in the local market. In 2003, this share had been estimated at 14.9 per cent.

In 2006, Maltese farmers took Lm7.9 million worth of vegetables and fruit to the organised markets, from the perspective of producer value. Of this, 15 per cent was in respect of the tomato crop. For potatoes, producers acquired 32 per cent more than in the preceding year while the onion crop also yielded 18 per cent more value than in 2005. Increases in producer value were recorded for peaches, sugar melons, figs and grapes. A downturn of 25 per cent was recorded in the producer value of pumpkins and of 15 per cent in that of cabbages when compared to 2005.

The main fish species taken to the fish market in 2006 included swordfish, blue fin tuna, dorado and shrimp, which contributed to a total producer value of Lm2.4 million. Pork and beef production amounted to 9,600 tonnes, dominated by the production of the former and supplemented by 3,900 tonnes of broiler meat. In addition, producers sold 40 million litres of milk, while laying hens produced an estimated 117.5 million eggs.

Imported goods constituted a major source of food for Malta in 2006, with food imports being estimated at Lm143.9 million, of which Lm23.5 million and Lm23.7 million corresponded to meats and cereals respectively. In the same year, food inflation measured by means of the 12-month moving average rate was 2.0 per cent, while the annual rate as at December 2006 was 2.9 per cent.