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Abstract
The status of competitiveness for the two most important food and beverage
manufacturing sector s (meat processing and beverage manufacturing) in 13 EU countries is
analysed empirically, using 1995 - 2002 Eurostat data. After a review of earlier agribusiness
competitiveness studies an industial competitiveness index is proposed as a composite
measure for multidimensional economic performance, covering profitability, productivity and
output growth. The index approach enables relative competitiveness comparisons across
industries, countries and over time. The results show that during 1999 - 2002 as compared to
1995 - 1998 for both sectors overall competitiveness in real terms slightly increased. At the
same time, overall competitiveness seems to also have converged slightly across countries,
implying that sector performance has become more similar. However, the two country
rankings differ considerable as do the change patterns during the analysed period.