The Headline: Europe's Largest Farm Output
What does France grow? Eurostat's crop statistics (dataset apro_cpsh1, 2016-2025) give a simple answer: more than anyone else. Across the crops tracked in this dataset, France harvested roughly 144.0 million tonnes in 2025 — about 20.8% of the EU-27 total and the largest national output in the bloc.
Sugar beet tops the volume list. France produced 35.71 million tonnes (35 709.0 thousand tonnes) in 2025 — 30.5% of the EU-27 harvest — ahead of Germany's 32.33 million tonnes (32 326.6 thousand tonnes). Wheat and spelt followed with 34.26 million tonnes (34 256.0 thousand tonnes), or 23.7% of EU production, again ahead of Germany (23.15 million tonnes / 23 152.0 thousand tonnes).
Grain maize and corn-cob-mix (13.74 million tonnes / 13 742.0 thousand tonnes, 22.9% of the EU total), barley (11.72 million tonnes / 11 718.6 thousand tonnes, 20.8%) and rapeseed (4.63 million tonnes / 4 631.1 thousand tonnes, 23.1%) complete the list of crops France leads outright. In all, France held 14 EU number-one titles in the 2025 rankings — more than any other member state — plus 44 top-three finishes.
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | 2025 production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | EU rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 35709.0 | 30.5% | 1 |
| Wheat and spelt | 34256.0 | 23.7% | 1 |
| Green maize | 15479.8 | 18.1% | 2 |
| Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | 13742.0 | 22.9% | 1 |
| Barley | 11718.6 | 20.8% | 1 |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 10201.9 | 17.9% | 2 |
| Grapes | 4735.6 | 21.7% | 3 |
| Rape and turnip rape seeds | 4631.1 | 23.1% | 1 |
Fourteen Crowns: Where France Leads the EU
France's crown jewels go far beyond the great cereals. Alongside its five headline titles, the country leads the EU in fibre flax with 912.8 thousand tonnes — 88.2% of the European harvest, with Belgium a distant second at 96.8 thousand tonnes — as well as hemp (124.0 thousand tonnes, 63.1% of the EU total), shallots (56.8 thousand tonnes, 84.3%) and linseed (39.6 thousand tonnes, 57.6%).
The protein and vegetable ledgers are equally French: field peas (585.7 thousand tonnes, 24.0% of EU output), fresh peas (260.1 thousand tonnes, 35.4%), fresh beans (318.0 thousand tonnes, 33.6%), broad and field beans (283.1 thousand tonnes, 19.1%) and leeks (159.1 thousand tonnes, 22.0%) all held first place in the latest rankings. Add runner-up positions in soya, carrots, chicory and bananas, and France's depth across the crop list is unmatched in the EU.
All values in 1 000 t. Crops where France ranked first in the EU in the latest year available.
| Crop | Latest production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre flax | 912.8 | 88.2% | 2025 |
| Field peas | 585.7 | 24.0% | 2025 |
| Fresh beans | 318.0 | 33.6% | 2024 |
| Broad and field beans | 283.1 | 19.1% | 2025 |
| Fresh peas | 260.1 | 35.4% | 2024 |
| Leeks | 159.1 | 22.0% | 2024 |
| Hemp | 124.0 | 63.1% | 2025 |
| Shallots | 56.8 | 84.3% | 2024 |
| Linseed (oilflax) | 39.6 | 57.6% | 2024 |
Volume Watch: Wheat Up, Forage Maize Down
The decade's headline numbers hide two opposite stories. Wheat and spelt grew 18.2% net, from 28.98 million tonnes (28 975.4 thousand tonnes) in 2016 to 34.26 million tonnes (34 256.0 thousand tonnes) in 2025 — a 1.88% CAGR that widened the gap to second-placed Germany.
The forage story is the decade's biggest shift. Green maize (maize cut for silage) collapsed from 46.49 million tonnes (46 485.5 thousand tonnes) in 2016 to 15.48 million tonnes (15 479.8 thousand tonnes) in 2025 (-66.7%), while grain maize and corn-cob-mix grew 17.4% (from 11 702.1 to 13 742.0 thousand tonnes). French farms now finish more maize as grain and less as fodder.
Potatoes are the quiet climber: 6.96 million tonnes (6 955.0 thousand tonnes) in 2016 became 10.20 million tonnes (10 201.9 thousand tonnes) in 2025 (+46.7%), lifting France to second place behind Germany (13.87 million tonnes / 13 870.7 thousand tonnes). Grapes moved the other way, easing 21.3% from 6.02 million tonnes (6 018.1 thousand tonnes) to 4.74 million tonnes (4 735.6 thousand tonnes) — still third in the EU behind Italy and Spain.
All values in 1 000 t. Net change between the first and last year of the 2016-2025 window.
| Crop | France 2016 (1 000 t) | France 2025 (1 000 t) | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat and spelt | 28975.4 | 34256.0 | +18.2% |
| Green maize | 46485.5 | 15479.8 | -66.7% |
| Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | 11702.1 | 13742.0 | +17.4% |
| Barley | 10317.8 | 11718.6 | +13.6% |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 6955.0 | 10201.9 | +46.7% |
| Grapes | 6018.1 | 4735.6 | -21.3% |
The Yield-per-Hectare Race
The yield-per-hectare comparison shows how efficiently French land is used. At 42.2 tonnes per hectare in 2025, French potato yields ranked fifth among the seven producers covered here: Denmark (48.87 t/ha), the Netherlands (46.11 t/ha) and Germany (45.96 t/ha) led, Belgium followed at 44.94 t/ha, and France out-yielded Ireland (40.74 t/ha) and Sweden (38.58 t/ha).
In wheat and spelt, France's 7.26 t/ha placed seventh — behind Ireland (9.92 t/ha), the Netherlands (9.14 t/ha), Belgium (9.08 t/ha), Denmark (8.60 t/ha), Germany (7.83 t/ha) and Sweden (7.32 t/ha).
Volumes behind those yields are dependable: French apple output varied with a coefficient of variation (CV) of just 5.8% across 2016-2025 — a Very stable grade — and barley with 9.3% (Very stable), while wheat (12.0%) and sugar beet (15.1%) grade Moderately stable.
Potato yields (R1000) for 2025, in tonnes per hectare.
| Country | Potato yield 2025 (t/ha) |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 48.87 |
| Netherlands | 46.11 |
| Germany | 45.96 |
| Belgium | 44.94 |
| France | 42.2 |
| Ireland | 40.74 |
| Sweden | 38.58 |
Land Use, Stability and What Buyers Should Know
Land use tells the decade's second story. French wheat area shrank 14.9%, from 5 542.2 to 4 716.2 thousand hectares (19.9% of the EU total), yet production rose 18.2% — growth came from yields, not land. Rapeseed area contracted 18.4% (to 1 265.2 thousand hectares) while sunflower area expanded 27.6% to 685.0 thousand hectares.
Sugar beet occupied 397.4 thousand hectares (27.6% of the EU beet area, -1.9% since 2016) and potato area jumped 35.0% to 241.8 thousand hectares (16.3% of the EU total). Buyers should read those shifts alongside stability grades: barley (CV 9.3%) and apples (CV 5.8%) are Very stable across 2016-2025, wheat (12.0%), grapes (10.7%) and sugar beet (15.1%) are Moderately stable, and the deepest single-year drawdowns include green maize (-68.4%) and sugar beet (-31.2%). Source flags (b = break, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional) deserve a check before comparing years.
All values in 1 000 ha. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | 2025 area (1 000 ha) | Change since 2016 | Share of EU area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat and spelt | 4716.2 | -14.9% | 19.9% |
| Barley | 1790.8 | -6.6% | 18.0% |
| Rape and turnip rape seeds | 1265.2 | -18.4% | 21.0% |
| Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | 1614.5 | +11.9% | 19.1% |
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 397.4 | -1.9% | 27.6% |
| Sunflower seed | 685.0 | +27.6% | 14.7% |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 241.8 | +35.0% | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most wheat in the EU?
France. In 2025 it harvested 34.26 million tonnes (34 256.0 thousand tonnes) of wheat and spelt — 23.7% of the EU-27 total — ahead of Germany (23.15 million tonnes / 23 152.0 thousand tonnes) and Poland (13.25 million tonnes / 13 254.0 thousand tonnes).
What is France's biggest crop by volume?
Sugar beet. France produced 35.71 million tonnes (35 709.0 thousand tonnes) in 2025 — 30.5% of EU production and the largest beet harvest in the bloc, ahead of Germany (32.33 million tonnes / 32 326.6 thousand tonnes) and Poland (18.60 million tonnes / 18 598.8 thousand tonnes).
How many EU crop titles does France hold?
Fourteen number-one positions in the 2025 rankings — sugar beet, wheat, grain maize, barley, rapeseed, fibre flax, hemp, shallots, linseed, field peas, fresh peas, fresh beans, broad and field beans, and leeks — plus 44 top-three finishes across the crop list.
Are French harvests stable?
Broadly, yes. Across 2016-2025, apple output (CV 5.8%) and barley (9.3%) grade Very stable, while wheat (12.0%), grapes (10.7%) and sugar beet (15.1%) are Moderately stable. The decade's big shock was forage: green maize fell 66.7% net as farms switched to grain maize.
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.
