726.7 Thousand Tonnes of Leek Production in Europe (2020–2024): A Complete Data Breakdown
The European Union produced 3.63 million tonnes of leeks over the 2020–2024 period, averaging 726.7 thousand tonnes per year. France leads as the top EU producer with 848.4 thousand tonnes (23.4 % of the EU total), followed closely by Belgium at 759.0 thousand tonnes and the Netherlands at 544.5 thousand tonnes. Leek production in Europe remains concentrated in the western member states, which together account for nearly 60 % of the entire EU output.
EU Market Share: Who Dominates Production?
France, Belgium and the Netherlands together account for the majority of EU leek output. France holds the top position with a 5-year total of 848.4 thousand tonnes (169.7 thousand t/yr), while Belgium follows at 759.0 thousand tonnes (151.8 thousand t/yr). The Netherlands ranks third with 544.5 thousand tonnes (108.9 thousand t/yr). Germany and Spain round out the top five.
| Member State | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 848.43 | 169.69 | 23.4 % |
| Belgium | 759.02 | 151.80 | 20.9 % |
| Netherlands | 544.52 | 108.90 | 15.0 % |
| Germany | 449.10 | 89.82 | 12.4 % |
| Spain | 363.25 | 72.65 | 10.0 % |
| Poland | 251.60 | 50.32 | 6.9 % |
| Other EU | 417.57 | 83.51 | 11.5 % |
Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare
Although Eurostat does not publish a dedicated yield indicator for leeks, calculating yield from harvested production and area harvested reveals notable efficiency differences across the top producers. The 2024 data shows that Belgium and the Netherlands achieve the highest yields.
| Member State | Production (1 000 t) | Area (1 000 ha) | Calculated Yield (t/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 151.48 | 3.64 | 41.6 |
| Netherlands | 128.45 | 3.18 | 40.4 |
| Germany | 89.60 | 2.38 | 37.6 |
| Turkey | 151.00 | 5.00 | 30.2 |
| France | 159.10 | 5.46 | 29.1 |
| Spain | 66.32 | 2.60 | 25.5 |
Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe
Leek production in Europe is heavily concentrated in the western member states. Western Europe (France, Belgium, the Netherlands) accounts for 59.2 % of total EU leek production, while central Europe (Germany, Poland) contributes 19.3 %. Southern Europe, represented primarily by Spain, accounts for 10.0 %.
France, Belgium and the Netherlands together account for 59.2 % of total EU leek production, making the region the undisputed centre of European leek cultivation.
| Region | Member States | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | Share of EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Europe | FR, BE, NL | 2 151.97 | 430.39 | 59.2 % |
| Central Europe | DE, PL | 700.70 | 140.14 | 19.3 % |
| Southern Europe | ES | 363.25 | 72.65 | 10.0 % |
| Other EU | Remaining members | 417.57 | 83.51 | 11.5 % |
Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility
The 5-year period reveals contrasting stability patterns among the top producers. Germany stands out as the most stable producer, with annual output ranging narrowly between 87.2 and 93.3 thousand tonnes — a variation of just 7 % from the lowest to highest year. France shows moderate fluctuation, peaking at 187.5 thousand tonnes in 2021 before declining to 159.1 thousand tonnes in 2024.
The Netherlands exhibits a clear growth trend, rising from 89.8 thousand tonnes in 2020 to 128.5 thousand tonnes in 2024, a 43 % increase. Spain shows the opposite trajectory, declining from 81.2 thousand tonnes in 2020 to 66.3 thousand tonnes in 2024 (an 18 % decrease). Turkey's production dropped sharply from 225.0 thousand tonnes in 2020 to 151.0 thousand tonnes in 2024, a 33 % decline.
| Year | FR | BE | NL | DE | ES | TR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 168.4b | 147.1 | 89.8 | 90.0 | 81.2 | 225.0 |
| 2021 | 187.5 | 169.7 | 105.0 | 93.3 | 82.4 | 213.0 |
| 2022 | 157.5 | 139.3 | 95.1 | 87.2 | 70.3 | 169.0 |
| 2023 | 175.9 | 151.5 | 126.2 | 89.1 | 63.1 | 161.0 |
| 2024 | 159.1 | 151.5 | 128.5 | 89.6 | 66.3 | 151.0 |
Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland
The EU dedicated 114.3 thousand hectares to leek cultivation over the 2020–2024 period, averaging 22.9 thousand hectares per year. France allocates the largest area — 27.8 thousand hectares (5.6 thousand ha/yr) — representing 24.3 % of the EU total. Belgium follows with 19.2 thousand hectares (3.8 thousand ha/yr, 16.8 %).
| Member State | Area (1 000 ha) | Annual Avg (1 000 ha/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 27.80 | 5.56 | 24.3 % |
| Belgium | 19.22 | 3.84 | 16.8 % |
| Netherlands | 13.97 | 2.79 | 12.2 % |
| Spain | 13.86 | 2.77 | 12.1 % |
| Germany | 11.65 | 2.33 | 10.2 % |
| Poland | 10.30 | 2.06 | 9.0 % |
| Other EU | 17.54 | 3.51 | 15.3 % |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country produces the most leeks?
France is the largest leek producer in the European Union, with 848.4 thousand tonnes over 2020–2024, representing 23.4 % of total EU output.
How much leek area does the EU harvest annually?
The European Union harvests an average of 22.9 thousand hectares of leeks per year, with France alone accounting for roughly one-quarter of that area.
Has leek production in Europe been growing or declining?
EU leek production has been relatively stable at around 700–780 thousand tonnes per year, with a modest decline from the 2021 peak of 784.2 thousand tonnes to 722.4 thousand tonnes in 2024.
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.