10-Year Production Trajectory: Rising Stars & Fading Producers
France anchored EU leeks production across the entire period, averaging around 160,800 tonnes annually and closing 2024 at 159,100 tonnes — essentially flat with a -0.05% CAGR. Belgium held the second-largest average volume but slid at a -1.14% CAGR, shedding 16,500 tonnes over the decade to land in Declining territory.
The clearest rising star was the Netherlands, which grew at a 4.52% CAGR and added 42,200 tonnes — a 48.9% net expansion — climbing from 86,300 tonnes in 2015 to a decade-high 128,400 tonnes in 2024. Germany stayed remarkably steady near 88,900 tonnes on average, posting a near-zero 0.01% CAGR.
At the other end, three producers retreated. Spain fell at a -3.64% CAGR (-26,300 tonnes), Poland dropped a steep -5.44% CAGR (-31,600 tonnes, a 39.5% decline concentrated after 2019), and Greece contracted fastest of all at a -12.44% CAGR, losing 69.7% of its output to finish at just 11,900 tonnes. Portugal was volatile but broadly stable overall (+0.97% CAGR).
Overall, the cohort split evenly by direction: four producers held stable-to-ascending trajectories (the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Portugal) against four in decline (Belgium, Spain, Poland, and Greece). At the EU aggregate, output peaked at 796,000 tonnes in 2017 and troughed at 678,600 tonnes in 2022 — with 2018 data unavailable — before closing 2024 at 722,400 tonnes, some 9.2% below the 2017 high.
| Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | CAGR | Net Change (1 000 t) | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 159.8 | 152.9 | 157.0 | 140.9 | 148.8 | 168.4b | 187.5 | 157.5 | 175.9 | 159.1 | -0.05% | -0.7 | Stable |
| Belgium | 168.0 | 130.7 | 158.8 | 129.8 | 152.3 | 147.1 | 169.7 | 139.2 | 151.5 | 151.5 | -1.14% | -16.5 | Declining |
| Netherlands | 86.3 | 82.2 | 104.3 | 82.2 | 92.4 | 89.8 | 105.0 | 95.1 | 126.2 | 128.4 | +4.52% | +42.2 | Ascending |
| Germany | 89.5 | 85.9 | 99.7 | 77.0 | 88.0 | 90.0 | 93.3 | 87.2 | 89.1 | 89.6 | +0.01% | +0.1 | Stable |
| Spain | 92.6 | 81.8 | 95.3 | 81.6 | 80.3 | 81.2 | 82.4 | 70.3 | 63.1 | 66.3 | -3.64% | -26.3 | Declining |
| Poland | 79.9 | 95.9 | 99.8 | 88.2 | 83.6 | 50.7 | 50.6 | 54.5 | 47.5 | 48.3 | -5.44% | -31.6 | Declining |
| Portugal | 25.3 | 26.1 | 22.7 | 24.0 | 21.2 | 38.4 | 34.0 | 19.3 | 16.2p | 27.6p | +0.97% | +2.3 | Stable |
| Greece | 39.4 | 35.8e | 23.4e | 22.8e | 18.2e | 18.8e | 21.1e | 16.8e | 14.9e | 11.9e | -12.44% | -27.5 | Declining |
| EU total | 772.7 | 726.4 | 796.0 | N/A | 725.5 | 725.3 | 784.2 | 678.6 | 723.0 | 722.4 | -0.75% | -50.3 | Stable |
Supply Stability Scorecard: Reliability Rankings
Volume leadership and supply reliability did not align. While France produced the most leeks, Germany was the steadiest supplier, posting the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) at just 6.1% — comfortably in "Very stable" territory — despite a single-year max drawdown of -22.82%. France ranked second on stability with a 7.94% CV and the shallowest drawdown of the group at -16.0%.
Belgium (8.71% CV) rounded out the very-stable tier. Spain and the Netherlands sat in the moderately stable band (12.4% and 16.07% CV respectively). The most volatile suppliers were Portugal (24.7% CV, -43.3% max drawdown), Poland (29.1% CV, -39.35% drawdown), and Greece, whose 37.48% CV made it the least reliable producer in the cohort. Max drawdown here captures the worst single-year drop within the decade — a useful reliability signal for buyers and processors.
| Country | Mean (1 000 t) | CV% | Max Drawdown% | Years Below Mean | Stability Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 88.92 | 6.1% | -22.82% | 4 | 1 |
| France | 160.78 | 7.94% | -16.0% | 7 | 2 |
| Belgium | 149.86 | 8.71% | -22.23% | 4 | 3 |
| Spain | 79.49 | 12.4% | -14.73% | 3 | 4 |
| Netherlands | 99.19 | 16.07% | -21.21% | 6 | 5 |
| Portugal | 25.47 | 24.7% | -43.3% | 6 | 6 |
| Poland | 69.9 | 29.1% | -39.35% | 5 | 7 |
| Greece | 22.3 | 37.48% | -34.6% | 6 | 8 |
Land Allocation Shift: 10-Year Cropland Transformation
The area devoted to leeks across the reporting group shrank over the decade, with the EU total falling from 24,500 hectares in 2015 to 22,400 hectares in 2024 — a net loss of 2,100 hectares at roughly -0.99% per year. The contraction was uneven and reveals how production shifted geographically.
Poland drove much of the decline, cutting its leek area by 52.4% (-2,200 hectares) at a -7.91% annual rate, with a sharp step-down after 2019. Greece contracted even faster in relative terms (-11.75%/yr, -67.5%), and Belgium and Spain trimmed area modestly (-1.07% and -1.01%/yr). Against this, the Netherlands expanded most, adding 800 hectares (+32.5%) at a 3.18% annual pace — and paired that with rising production, indicating genuine capacity growth rather than mere reallocation. France, Germany, and Portugal each expanded area slightly.
Comparing dimensions, the Netherlands stands out: its 4.52% production CAGR outpaced its 3.18% area growth, signalling yield gains on top of expansion. Poland's story is the mirror image — production and area both collapsed together, confirming a structural retreat rather than a productivity story. The reallocation also reordered the ranking: the Netherlands lifted its leek area from 2,400 hectares in 2015 to 3,200 hectares in 2024, overtaking Poland — which fell from 4,200 to 2,000 hectares — to become the third-largest leek area in the group behind France and Belgium.
| Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Net Change (1 000 ha) | Growth Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 5.1 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 5.6b | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | +0.3 | +0.74% | Expanding |
| Belgium | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.6 | -0.4 | -1.07% | Contracting |
| Netherlands | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.2 | +0.8 | +3.18% | Expanding |
| Germany | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | +0.2 | +0.98% | Expanding |
| Spain | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | -0.2 | -1.01% | Contracting |
| Poland | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | -2.2 | -7.91% | Contracting |
| Portugal | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7p | 0.9p | +0.1 | +0.88% | Expanding |
| Greece | 1.5 | 1.4e | 1.0e | 0.9e | 0.8e | 0.9e | 1.0e | 0.7e | 0.6e | 0.5e | -1.0 | -11.75% | Contracting |
| EU total | 24.5 | 24.5 | 25.6 | 24.1 | 24.6 | 23.6 | 24.8 | 22.1 | 21.5 | 22.4 | -2.1 | -0.99% | Contracting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country's leek production grew fastest over the decade, and which fell most steeply?
The Netherlands grew fastest, expanding at a 4.52% CAGR and adding 42,200 tonnes (+48.9%). Greece declined most steeply, contracting at a -12.44% CAGR and losing 69.7% of its output.
Which country is the most stable leek supplier?
Germany was the most reliable producer, with the lowest coefficient of variation at 6.1%, ahead of France (7.94%) and Belgium (8.71%). Greece was the most volatile at 37.48%.
Where is EU leek farmland expanding or shrinking?
Leek area is expanding in the Netherlands (+32.5%), France, Germany, and Portugal, while it is contracting sharply in Poland (-52.4%) and Greece (-67.5%). The EU total area fell about 2,100 hectares over the decade.
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.
