10-Year Production Trajectory: Rising Stars & Fading Producers
Across the EU-27, total field peas production rose from 2.13 million tonnes in 2016 to 2.44 million tonnes in 2025 — a net gain of about 306 thousand tonnes (+14.4%), equivalent to a 1.50% CAGR. EU-27 aggregate data is unavailable for 2021–2024, though country-level reporting continued without interruption.
France retained its position as the EU's top field peas producer, averaging the largest volumes over the decade, though its trajectory was essentially flat (a 0.74% CAGR, adding just 37.8 thousand tonnes net). Its 2020 value carries a break-in-series flag, reflecting a methodological change in French reporting. Germany, the second-largest producer, showed a clear ascending trajectory (a 4.81% CAGR, +52.7%), rising from 290.2 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 443.0 thousand tonnes in 2025. Lithuania, the third-largest, experienced the decade's steepest decline (-8.68% CAGR, -55.9%), falling from 398.1 thousand tonnes to 175.8 thousand tonnes.
The clearest rising stars were Romania (+5.51% CAGR, +62.0%), Czechia (+4.58% CAGR, +49.7%), and Germany (+4.81% CAGR, +52.7%), all posting strong double-digit percentage gains. Estonia (+2.45% CAGR, +24.3%) and Spain (+1.19% CAGR, +11.3%) also moved higher but at a more moderate pace. Sweden was effectively flat (-0.97% CAGR, -8.4%). Spain's 2025 value is provisional.
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | CAGR | Net Change (1 000 t) | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 547.9 | 768.6 | 590.2 | 709.4 | 558.8b | 552.2 | 399.9 | 485.2 | 486.7 | 585.7 | +0.74% | +37.8 | Stable |
| Germany | 290.2 | 298.1 | 197.1 | 228.2 | 297.5 | 299.1 | 322.6 | 265.9 | 376.0 | 443.0 | +4.81% | +152.8 | Ascending |
| Lithuania | 398.1 | 449.0 | 213.7 | 155.8 | 151.1 | 121.1 | 152.3 | 149.4 | 216.2 | 175.8 | -8.68% | -222.4 | Declining |
| Spain | 280.3 | 190.7 | 268.7 | 163.8 | 227.6 | 177.8 | 136.0 | 153.1 | 263.3 | 311.9p | +1.19% | +31.6 | Ascending |
| Romania | 78.2 | 280.5 | 170.8 | 220.4 | 111.3 | 159.6 | 109.2 | 151.5 | 114.5 | 126.8 | +5.51% | +48.5 | Ascending |
| Czechia | 68.7 | 87.3 | 70.6 | 67.3 | 84.9 | 104.4 | 115.1 | 105.7 | 88.2 | 102.8 | +4.58% | +34.1 | Ascending |
| Estonia | 72.2 | 49.9 | 53.6 | 82.0 | 81.2 | 59.2 | 94.9 | 94.0 | 117.6 | 89.8 | +2.45% | +17.6 | Ascending |
| Sweden | 91.6 | 81.2 | 48.3 | 68.5 | 72.0 | 55.2 | 85.0 | 54.3 | 73.1 | 83.9 | -0.97% | -7.7 | Stable |
| EU-27 | 2130.9 | 2613.1 | 1901.8 | 2016.7 | 1925.1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2437.0 | +1.50% | +306.1 | Ascending |
Supply Stability Scorecard: Reliability Rankings
Volume leadership and supply reliability are seldom held by the same producer. Ranking the top eight field peas producers by coefficient of variation (CV) — where a lower CV means steadier year-to-year output — reveals a clear hierarchy.
France is the most stable supplier (CV 17.9%, max single-year drawdown of -27.6% in 2022), making it both the largest-volume and most reliable producer — an unusual combination among EU crops. Czechia follows closely (CV 18.1%, max drawdown -19.2%), offering the tightest downside protection of any producer. Sweden (CV 19.6%, max drawdown -40.5%) rounds out the moderately stable tier, while Germany (CV 21.9%, max drawdown -33.9%) sits just across the threshold into volatile territory.
At the volatile end, Lithuania (CV 49.0%, max drawdown -52.4%) is the least reliable — a buyer sourcing exclusively from Lithuania would have absorbed a halving of supply from the 2017 peak to the 2021 trough. Romania (CV 37.5%, max drawdown -49.5%) and Spain (CV 26.7%, max drawdown -39.0%) also fall firmly in the volatile zone. For context, no top field peas producer achieves the "very stable" (CV <10%) threshold; only three are moderately stable at best.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 568.5 | 17.9% | -27.6% | 6 | 1 |
| Czechia | 89.5 | 18.1% | -19.2% | 6 | 2 |
| Sweden | 71.3 | 19.6% | -40.5% | 4 | 3 |
| Germany | 301.8 | 21.9% | -33.9% | 7 | 4 |
| Estonia | 79.4 | 25.3% | -31.0% | 4 | 5 |
| Spain | 217.3 | 26.7% | -39.0% | 5 | 6 |
| Romania | 152.3 | 37.5% | -49.5% | 6 | 7 |
| Lithuania | 218.3 | 49.0% | -52.4% | 8 | 8 |
Land Allocation Shift: 10-Year Cropland Transformation
In contrast to many EU arable crops, field peas acreage expanded over the decade. EU-27 harvested area rose from 861.1 thousand hectares in 2016 to 1,026.3 thousand hectares in 2025 — a net gain of about 165.2 thousand hectares (+19.2%, a +1.97% annualized growth rate). This expansion signals strong and sustained grower interest in field peas across the bloc.
Seven of the eight top producers expanded their field peas area. Romania posted the most dramatic increase (+131.6%, a +9.78% annualized rate), followed by Czechia (+70.3%, +6.1%/yr), Germany (+58.2%, +5.23%/yr), Estonia (+27.7%, +2.75%/yr), and Spain (+18.8%, +1.93%/yr). France, despite being the largest producer by volume, contracted its field peas acreage (-24.6%, -3.09%/yr), as did Lithuania (-41.2%, -5.72%/yr) and Sweden (-7.5%, -0.86%/yr).
Comparing production CAGR against area growth rates reveals that in most expanding countries, output gains tracked area gains closely, suggesting the growth was primarily extensification rather than yield improvement. Germany's production CAGR (4.81%) mirrored its area growth rate (5.23%), implying stable per-hectare productivity. Romania's production growth (5.51%) lagged its rapid area expansion (9.78%), indicating some yield dilution on new acreage.
All values in 1 000 ha. b = break in series, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Net Change (1 000 ha) | Growth Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 214.6 | 215.8 | 167.1 | 175.6 | 202.7b | 194.3 | 133.5 | 151.6 | 166.4 | 161.7 | -52.8 | -3.09% | Contracting |
| Germany | 87.5 | 85.5 | 70.7 | 74.6 | 82.6 | 97.7 | 106.9 | 118.1 | 129.3 | 138.4 | +50.9 | +5.23% | Expanding |
| Lithuania | 148.8 | 154.2 | 106.2 | 75.2 | 61.7 | 61.5 | 71.5 | 71.2 | 98.5 | 87.5 | -61.2 | -5.72% | Contracting |
| Spain | 155.4 | 173.8 | 149.0 | 145.4 | 117.0 | 115.3 | 122.5 | 229.2 | 192.6 | 184.6p | +29.1 | +1.93% | Expanding |
| Romania | 42.7 | 105.3 | 118.1 | 103.1 | 96.9 | 75.2 | 68.1 | 91.0 | 106.9 | 99.0 | +56.2 | +9.78% | Expanding |
| Czechia | 26.6 | 34.8 | 29.1 | 28.8 | 32.6 | 38.5 | 40.6 | 47.0 | 52.8 | 45.3 | +18.7 | +6.10% | Expanding |
| Estonia | 38.9 | 38.8 | 29.7 | 31.8 | 35.6 | 33.1 | 37.3 | 42.7 | 49.7 | 49.6 | +10.8 | +2.75% | Expanding |
| Sweden | 25.2 | 23.9 | 21.7 | 20.5 | 21.9 | 22.0 | 23.8 | 26.8 | 25.6 | 23.3 | -1.9 | -0.86% | Contracting |
| EU-27 | 861.1 | 985.8 | 829.1 | 785.6 | 789.4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1054.8 | 1026.3 | +165.2 | +1.97% | Expanding |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country increased field peas production the most from 2016 to 2025?
Germany had the largest absolute gain (+152.8 thousand tonnes, +52.7%, a 4.81% CAGR), while Romania posted the fastest relative growth (+62.0%, a 5.51% CAGR) but from a much smaller base. Lithuania recorded the steepest decline (-55.9%, an -8.68% CAGR).
Which country is the most stable field peas supplier in the EU?
France was both the largest and most reliable supplier, with the lowest coefficient of variation (17.9%) among the top eight producers and a maximum single-year drop of -27.6%. Czechia ranked second (CV 18.1%), offering the tightest downside protection at -19.2%.
Is EU field peas farmland expanding or shrinking?
EU-27 harvested field peas area expanded by about 165.2 thousand hectares (+19.2%) between 2016 and 2025. Romania (+131.6%), Czechia (+70.3%), and Germany (+58.2%) led the expansion, while France (-24.6%) and Lithuania (-41.2%) reduced their acreage.
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.
