853.22 Thousand Tonnes of Brussels Sprouts: EU Production Statistics 2020–2024 — A Complete Data Breakdown

EU Market Share: Who Dominates Brussels Sprouts Production?

Belgium and the Netherlands together dominate the EU Brussels sprouts market, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all production. Belgium leads with 338.48 thousand tonnes (67.70 kt/yr), while the Netherlands contributes 297.18 thousand tonnes (59.44 kt/yr). France rounds out the top three with 81.93 thousand tonnes (16.39 kt/yr), followed by Germany at 53.83 thousand tonnes (10.77 kt/yr). Italy and Poland produce 28.81 and 20.50 thousand tonnes respectively, while Spain (13.55 kt), Turkey (12.00 kt), and Ireland (10.15 kt) complete the top ten.

Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare for Brussels Sprouts

Eurostat does not publish direct yield indicators for Brussels sprouts in the apro_cpsh1 dataset, but yield can be calculated from harvested production and area. Belgium achieves the highest average yield at 22.24 tonnes per hectare, followed closely by the Netherlands at 21.17 t/ha. Germany ranks third at 20.55 t/ha, while France averages 18.15 t/ha. The top four producers all maintain yields between 18 and 22 t/ha, demonstrating strong land-use efficiency across Northwestern Europe.

Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe

Brussels sprouts production is overwhelmingly concentrated in Western Europe, reflecting the crop's preference for cool, temperate climates. The Western European bloc — encompassing Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Austria, and Luxembourg — accounts for 785.21 thousand tonnes or 92.0% of the EU total. Southern Europe contributes 43.80 thousand tonnes (5.1%), led by Italy and Spain. Eastern Europe produces 20.91 thousand tonnes (2.5%), primarily from Poland. Nordic countries add a marginal 3.29 thousand tonnes (0.4%). This extreme geographic concentration distinguishes Brussels sprouts from most other vegetable crops in the EU.

Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility

Belgium's Brussels sprouts production exhibits the highest volatility among the top producers, with output ranging from 46.62 thousand tonnes in 2023 to 92.44 thousand tonnes in 2021 — a spread of 45.82 thousand tonnes. The Netherlands shows moderate stability, with production fluctuating within an 11.95 thousand tonne range (52.70 to 64.65 thousand tonnes). Germany is the steadiest producer, maintaining output between 9.14 and 11.58 thousand tonnes over the five-year period. French production has trended gradually upward, rising from 14.07 thousand tonnes in 2021–2022 to 20.39 thousand tonnes in 2024.

Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland for Brussels Sprouts

The EU dedicated a total of 41.24 thousand hectares to Brussels sprouts cultivation between 2020 and 2024, averaging 8.25 thousand hectares per year. Belgium allocates the largest area at 15.02 thousand hectares (36.4% of the EU total, 3.00 kha/yr), followed closely by the Netherlands at 14.03 thousand hectares (34.0%, 2.81 kha/yr). France uses 4.51 thousand hectares (10.9%), Germany 2.62 thousand hectares (6.4%), and Poland 1.50 thousand hectares (3.6%). Belgium and the Netherlands together account for over 70% of the EU's Brussels sprouts farmland despite representing only two of the 27 member states.

Frequently Asked Questions