Will food be more expensive in Hungary than last summer?

This is particularly important for agriculture, as rising fuel prices directly increase the costs of agricultural work, raw material transportation and food logistics. AKCENTA CZ experts emphasize that for agricultural enterprises, prices do not depend solely on crop yields when looking at the entire supply chain – from grain producers to processors and distributors. The exchange rate of the forint against the euro and, in regional terms, the exchange rate against the Czech crown also play a significant role.

According to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Office, the value of agricultural production in 2025 increased by 6.2% in nominal terms, primarily due to an increase in producer prices of about 10%. At the same time, production volume decreased by 3.6%. Crop production fell by 8.7%, while the situation was different for individual crops. Corn production decreased by about 29%, while wheat increased by about 10%, barley by 9%, and rye by 1.6%. Fruit production fell by 32% year-on-year. This means that the supply of some raw materials decreased significantly, while producer prices increased. In practice, this environment could result in larger price movements in the wholesale and retail markets. In the case of fruits, price pressure could be particularly strong if weather conditions do not improve in 2026. 

Hungarian government introduces fuel price cap 

Fluctuations in energy prices also contribute to this. After the escalation of the conflict around Iran, oil prices rose significantly on the world market, which also began to affect fuel prices in Europe. Due to rising costs, the Hungarian government again introduced fuel price limits in March 2026: the price of gasoline can be a maximum of 595 forints per liter, and that of diesel 615 forints. The move was aimed at mitigating the impact of rising energy prices on the economy and the transport sector. For agriculture, the price of diesel is the main factor. This fuel powers most of the machinery used in sowing, crop protection and harvesting, as well as the transport of agricultural products to warehouses, processing plants and retail chains. Thus, even a small increase in the price of diesel can quickly be reflected in the costs of food production and logistics. 

More than 90% of imports come from the EU 

In 2025, one of the key factors in production results was drought, especially in the Great Plain. Dry weather limited plant development already at the emergence stage and later led to lower yields, especially in the case of corn and some fruit crops. The phenomenon shows that climatic factors are no longer isolated events, but permanent risk factors for agricultural production, which directly affect the supply of raw materials and ultimately food prices. According to a report by the Institute of Agricultural Economics, in 2024 the value of agri-food exports reached 13.7 billion euros, while imports amounted to 9.7 billion euros. Cereals represented 1.78 billion euros in exports. More than 90% of imports came from European Union countries, which means a strong connection with the European market and that the majority of settlements are made in euros.