256.7 Million Tonnes of EU Barley Production 2021–2025: A Complete Data Breakdown
EU barley production statistics show France and Germany together account for over 43% of the total output, while Spain leads in land allocation with nearly a quarter of the EU's barley area. Yields vary dramatically across the continent, from over 7.5 t/ha in Ireland and Belgium to below 3 t/ha in southern and south-eastern growing regions.
EU Market Share: Who Dominates Production?
France and Germany are the undisputed leaders of EU barley production. Over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025, France produced 56.14 million tonnes and Germany 54.56 million tonnes, together representing 43.1% of the EU total. Spain ranks third with 37.08 million tonnes (14.4%), followed by Denmark with 16.74 million tonnes (6.5%) and Poland with 14.49 million tonnes (5.6%). Among candidate countries, Turkey produced 31.91 million tonnes, which would place it third if included in the EU aggregate.
| Member State | Total Volume (1,000 t) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|
| France | 56,138 | 21.9% |
| Germany | 54,565 | 21.3% |
| Spain | 37,078 | 14.4% |
| Denmark | 16,736 | 6.5% |
| Poland | 14,490 | 5.6% |
| Romania | 11,329 | 4.4% |
| Czechia | 8,914 | 3.5% |
| Hungary | 8,772 | 3.4% |
| Ireland | 6,877 | 2.7% |
| Other EU | 41,784 | 16.3% |
Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare
While France and Germany dominate in total volume, the highest-yielding barley producers are found in north-western Europe. Ireland leads with a five-year average yield of 7.52 t/ha, closely followed by Belgium at 7.66 t/ha. Germany averages 6.90 t/ha, the Netherlands 6.88 t/ha, and Austria 6.21 t/ha. France, despite being the top producer by volume, achieves a more moderate 6.23 t/ha average. At the lower end, Spain averages 3.14 t/ha and Turkey just 2.48 t/ha.
| Member State | Avg Yield (t/ha) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 7.66 | 7.85 | 8.03 | 8.06 | 6.24 | 8.11 |
| Ireland | 7.52 | 8.19 | 8.14 | 6.57 | 7.07 | 7.61 |
| Germany | 6.90 | 6.76 | 7.08 | 6.82 | 6.39 | 7.44 |
| Netherlands | 6.88 | 6.63 | 7.75 | 6.46 | 6.17 | 7.41 |
| France | 6.23 | 6.54 | 6.05 | 6.69 | 5.35 | 6.54 |
| Austria | 6.21 | 6.00 | 6.26 | 6.29 | 5.73 | 6.75 |
| Denmark | 5.73 | 5.57 | 6.71 | 4.53 | 5.50 | 6.33 |
| Spain | 3.14 | 3.69 | 2.93 | 1.60 | 3.29 | 4.17p |
| Turkey | 2.48 | 1.82 | 2.73 | 2.83 | 2.53 | : |
Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe
Barley production in Europe follows a clear west-to-east and north-to-south gradient. Western Europe (France and Germany) contributes 43.1% of the EU total with 110.7 million tonnes. Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Czechia, and Hungary) adds 17.0% with 43.5 million tonnes, while Northern Europe (Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, and Finland) contributes 13.9% with 35.7 million tonnes. Southern Europe (Spain and Italy) produces 16.5% with 42.3 million tonnes, but does so from the largest land area — Spain alone dedicates more hectares to barley than any other EU member state.
Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility
The EU's total barley production fluctuated notably across the five-year window. After stable output of 52.1 million tonnes in both 2021 and 2022, production dipped to 47.4 million tonnes in 2023 — a 9% decline — before recovering to 49.0 million tonnes in 2024 and surging to 56.2 million tonnes in 2025. France showed remarkable consistency, oscillating within a narrow band of 9,669 to 12,143 thousand tonnes, while Germany was even more stable, staying between 10,410 and 11,337 thousand tonnes every year. Spain exhibited the highest volatility: output dropped from 9,276 thousand tonnes in 2021 to just 3,758 thousand tonnes in 2023 — a 59% collapse — before bouncing back to 9,574 thousand tonnes in 2025p. Denmark also saw a sharp dip in 2023 to 2,542 thousand tonnes, a 38% decline from the previous year. Turkey showed a strong upward trend, growing from 5,815 thousand tonnes in 2021 to 9,307 thousand tonnes in 2023 before stabilising.
| Country | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU27 | 52,091 | 51,990 | 47,390 | 48,985 | 56,227 |
| France | 11,321 | 11,285 | 12,143 | 9,669 | 11,719 |
| Germany | 10,411 | 11,207 | 11,000 | 10,610 | 11,337 |
| Spain | 9,276 | 7,030 | 3,758 | 7,441 | 9,574p |
| Turkey | 5,815 | 8,600 | 9,307 | 8,193 | : |
| Denmark | 3,462 | 4,123 | 2,542 | 3,141 | 3,469 |
Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland
The EU dedicated a cumulative 51.2 million hectares to barley over the 2021–2025 period. Spain leads with 11.8 million hectares (23.1% of the EU total). France follows with 9.0 million hectares (17.6%), Germany with 7.9 million hectares (15.5%), Poland with 3.3 million hectares (6.5%), and Denmark with 2.9 million hectares (5.7%). Outside the EU, Turkey planted 12.9 million hectares to barley — more than any single EU member state.
| Member State | Area (1,000 ha) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 11,815 | 23.1% |
| France | 9,012 | 17.6% |
| Germany | 7,917 | 15.5% |
| Poland | 3,324 | 6.5% |
| Denmark | 2,917 | 5.7% |
| Romania | 2,533 | 4.9% |
| Finland | 1,738 | 3.4% |
| Czechia | 1,594 | 3.1% |
| Hungary | 1,588 | 3.1% |
| Other EU | 8,744 | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country produces the most barley?
France is the largest barley producer in the European Union, with 56.14 million tonnes harvested over 2021–2025, representing 21.9% of the EU total. Germany is a close second at 54.56 million tonnes (21.3%).
Why does Spain have such a low barley yield compared to other EU countries?
Spain's five-year average barley yield of 3.14 t/ha is less than half the EU average. The same land area that produces low yields also means Spain dedicates more hectares to barley than any other member state.
What was the lowest production year for EU barley between 2021 and 2025?
EU barley production fell to 47.4 million tonnes in 2023, the lowest in the five-year window and 9% below the 2021 level. Spain recorded 3,758 thousand tonnes in 2023, a 59% decline from 2021, while Denmark fell to 2,542 thousand tonnes, a 38% drop from the prior year.
Source data extracted from Eurostat dataset apro_cpsh1.
This article was generated using AI. The content is based on Eurostat data and is provided as a starting point — please verify all data with the original source.