10-Year Production Trajectory: Rising Stars & Fading Producers
EU-27 total eggplant output expanded at a 1.86% CAGR, adding 145.2 thousand tonnes over the ten-year period. The decade low occurred in 2017 at 770.6 thousand tonnes, and the high was the final year, 2024, at 950.9 thousand tonnes.
Italy remains the dominant producer by a wide margin, averaging 315.3 thousand tonnes annually. Italian output grew at a 3.61% CAGR, adding 112.9 thousand tonnes net — the largest absolute gain of any member state. Spain, the second-largest producer, grew at a steadier 2.21% CAGR (+53.1 thousand tonnes), finishing the decade at 297.7 thousand tonnes. France posted the fastest relative growth among large producers (3.83% CAGR, +40.2%), though its 2020 figure carries a break-in-series flag reflecting a methodological change.
Belgium (3.31% CAGR, +34.1%) and Bulgaria (4.38% CAGR, +47.0%) both showed strong upward momentum from smaller bases, while the Netherlands grew modestly (1.21% CAGR, +11.4%), maintaining consistent annual output near 60 thousand tonnes.
At the other end of the spectrum, Romania suffered the deepest decline: a -5.12% CAGR, losing 30.4 thousand tonnes (-37.7%) and falling from 80.7 thousand tonnes in 2015 to just 50.3 thousand tonnes in 2024. Greece also contracted sharply (-3.92% CAGR, -30.2%), with estimated values flagged throughout the period.
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, e = estimated.
| Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | CAGR | Net Change (1 000 t) | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 300.2 | 317.6 | 286.5 | 298.3 | 300.6 | 304.7 | 306.4 | 307.4 | 318.0 | 413.1 | +3.61% | +112.9 | Ascending |
| Spain | 244.5 | 242.6 | 225.9 | 238.3 | 245.2 | 282.2 | 265.3 | 276.3 | 260.4 | 297.7 | +2.21% | +53.1 | Ascending |
| Romania | 80.7 | 67.7 | 78.5 | 88.2 | 79.7 | 88.4 | 95.9 | 64.6 | 64.8 | 50.3 | -5.12% | -30.4 | Declining |
| Netherlands | 53.0 | 54.0 | 53.0 | 55.0 | 62.0 | 65.0 | 63.0 | 66.0 | 60.0 | 59.0 | +1.21% | +6.0 | Ascending |
| Greece | 69.1 | 70.1e | 63.2e | 70.9e | 54.9e | 61.0e | 60.0e | 44.5e | 41.4e | 48.2e | -3.92% | -20.9 | Declining |
| France | 30.6 | 31.8 | 30.1 | 32.0 | 29.6 | 57.1b | 44.3 | 42.5 | 40.7 | 42.8 | +3.83% | +12.3 | Ascending |
| Belgium | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 11.4 | 14.2 | 13.8 | 12.3 | 10.9 | +3.31% | +2.8 | Ascending |
| Bulgaria | 9.9 | 7.9 | 11.9 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 9.9 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 14.6 | +4.38% | +4.7 | Ascending |
| EU-27 | 805.7 | 811.5 | 770.6 | 816.1 | 803.9 | 891.8 | 874.8 | 837.6 | 831.6 | 950.9 | +1.86% | +145.2 | Ascending |
Supply Stability Scorecard: Reliability Rankings
Volume leadership and year-to-year consistency do not always align. Ranking producers by coefficient of variation (CV) — where a lower CV signals steadier output — reveals that the most reliable eggplant suppliers are not necessarily the largest.
The Netherlands posted the best stability score (CV 8.02%, max drawdown -9.09%), reflecting its controlled greenhouse production environment. Spain (CV 8.27%, max drawdown -6.89%) was a close second, combining strong volume with exceptional reliability. Italy (CV 10.7%, max drawdown -9.8%) sits in the "moderately stable" tier, with seven years below its mean — the most of any producer — driven largely by a single large swing in 2024.
Romania (CV 17.3%), Greece (CV 17.48%), Bulgaria (CV 17.96%), and Belgium (CV 19.78%) all fall in the moderately stable range, while France (CV 22.21%, max drawdown -22.43%) is the only top producer classified as volatile. Notably, France's CV is inflated by the 2020 break-in-series jump from 29.6 to 57.1 thousand tonnes, after which output settled at a higher plateau.
CV < 10% = Very stable; CV 10–20% = Moderately stable; CV > 20% = Volatile.
| Country | Mean (1 000 t) | CV% | Max Drawdown% | Years Below Mean | Stability Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 59.0 | 8.02% | -9.09% | 4 | 1 |
| Spain | 257.8 | 8.27% | -6.89% | 5 | 2 |
| Italy | 315.3 | 10.70% | -9.80% | 7 | 3 |
| Romania | 75.9 | 17.30% | -32.65% | 4 | 4 |
| Greece | 58.4 | 17.48% | -25.87% | 4 | 5 |
| Bulgaria | 10.4 | 17.96% | -21.37% | 6 | 6 |
| Belgium | 10.8 | 19.78% | -11.56% | 5 | 7 |
| France | 38.1 | 22.21% | -22.43% | 5 | 8 |
Land Allocation Shift: 10-Year Cropland Transformation
EU-27 harvested eggplant area contracted slightly over the decade, from 22.3 thousand hectares in 2015 to 21.1 thousand hectares in 2024 (-5.4%, a -0.62% annualized rate). Since production grew 18% over the same period, implied yields improved markedly — a clear efficiency gain across the bloc.
France posted the most dramatic land expansion: a 111.3% increase (+0.8 thousand hectares, 8.67%/yr), driven largely by the 2020 methodological break that nearly doubled its reported area. The Netherlands also expanded acreage (9.1% cumulative, +0.97%/yr), though from a negligible base of 0.1 thousand hectares.
On the contraction side, Greece cut its eggplant area by more than half (-53.7%, -8.21%/yr), falling from 1.9 to 0.9 thousand hectares — the steepest relative decline of any top producer. Romania (-16.8%, -2.02%/yr) and Spain (-6.5%, -0.75%/yr) also reduced land commitment. Italy, Belgium, and Bulgaria held relatively stable.
Comparing production CAGR against area CAGR reveals that Italy's 3.61% production growth far outpaced its -0.13% area trend, implying substantial yield improvement. Spain's 2.21% production CAGR contrasted with -0.75% area contraction, again pointing to efficiency gains. France's production growth (3.83%) lagged behind its area expansion (8.67%), suggesting that the post-2020 higher output came primarily from more land rather than higher yields.
All values in 1 000 ha. b = break in series, e = estimated.
| Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Net Change (1 000 ha) | Growth Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 10.2 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 10.0 | -0.1 | -0.13% | Stable |
| Spain | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | -0.2 | -0.75% | Contracting |
| Romania | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.1 | -0.8 | -2.02% | Contracting |
| Netherlands | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | +0.97% | Expanding |
| Greece | 1.9 | 1.8e | 1.7e | 1.7e | 1.4e | 1.5e | 1.4e | 1.0e | 0.9e | 0.9e | -1.0 | -8.21% | Contracting |
| France | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.5b | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | +0.8 | +8.67% | Expanding |
| Belgium | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00% | Stable |
| Bulgaria | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | +0.22% | Stable |
| EU-27 | 22.3 | 21.5 | 20.7 | 21.2 | 20.6 | 21.3 | 21.9 | 20.6 | 21.0 | 21.1 | -1.2 | -0.62% | Contracting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country increased eggplant production the most from 2015 to 2024?
Italy had the largest absolute gain, adding 112.9 thousand tonnes (+37.6%, a 3.61% CAGR). Bulgaria posted the fastest relative growth at 4.38% CAGR (+47.0%), while Romania and Greece recorded the steepest declines among the top producers.
Which country is the most stable eggplant supplier in the EU?
The Netherlands was the most reliable supplier, with the lowest coefficient of variation (8.02%) and a maximum drawdown of just -9.09%. Spain ranked second (CV 8.27%), combining high volume with very stable output.
Is EU eggplant farmland expanding or shrinking?
EU-27 harvested eggplant area contracted slightly (-5.4%, from 22.3 to 21.1 thousand hectares). France expanded its area the most (+111.3%, driven partly by a methodological revision), while Greece cut its acreage by more than half (-53.7%).
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.
