10-Year Production Trajectory: Rising Stars & Fading Producers
Italy dominates EU lucerne production by volume but saw its output decline from 20,880.7 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 8,377.7 thousand tonnes by 2025, representing a −9.65% CAGR and a net loss of 12,503.0 thousand tonnes (−59.9%). Production peaked at 32,138.5 thousand tonnes in 2020, the highest single-year output among any EU member state in the dataset, before entering a steep multi-year decline. Italian production remained above 23,000 thousand tonnes from 2017 through 2023, making the drop to 8,377.7 thousand tonnes in 2025 particularly pronounced.
Spain, the second-largest producer, followed a similar pattern, falling from 7,323.2 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 1,778.9 thousand tonnes (provisional) in 2025 — a −14.55% CAGR and a net contraction of −75.7%. Spanish output fluctuated between 4,593.6 and 7,323.2 thousand tonnes for most of the decade before the sharp decline in the final year. Hungary's output dropped from 2,280.7 to 637.7 thousand tonnes (−13.2% CAGR, −72.0%), with the steepest losses concentrated between 2020 and 2022. Czechia declined from 1,177.4 to 330.1 thousand tonnes (−13.18% CAGR, −72.0%), following a similar trajectory to Hungary.
Bulgaria experienced the steepest relative decline at −15.63% CAGR, falling from 981.2 to 212.6 thousand tonnes (−78.3%). Bulgarian production had been relatively stable between 2016 and 2019, ranging from 981.2 to 1,065.7 thousand tonnes, before a sustained decline set in from 2020 onward. Slovakia and Croatia also recorded substantial contractions, with −13.64% CAGR and −13.8% CAGR respectively, both finishing the decade at approximately one-quarter of their starting volumes.
Poland stands alone as the ascending producer, growing production from 909.0 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 1,209.7 thousand tonnes (estimated) in 2025 — a +3.23% CAGR and a net increase of 300.7 thousand tonnes (+33.1%). Polish production accelerated noticeably from 2021 onward, reaching a peak of 2,958.5 thousand tonnes in 2024, before a moderating estimate for 2025. Over the full decade, Poland's cumulative production of 17,244.8 thousand tonnes placed it fourth among the eight leading producers, behind Italy, Spain, and Hungary. Poland's trajectory is particularly notable given the broad sector decline, making it the clear outlier among the top lucerne-producing member states.
All values in 1 000 t. e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | CAGR | Net Change (1 000 t) | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 20880.7 | 25300.2 | 29257.9 | 31564.8 | 32138.5 | 27775.2 | 23448.8 | 23205.5 | 25142.7 | 8377.7 | −9.65% | −12503.0 | Declining |
| Spain | 7323.2 | 5853.9 | 6506.3 | 5976.0 | 6324.5 | 6111.3 | 5026.5 | 4593.6 | 4777.8 | 1778.9p | −14.55% | −5544.3 | Declining |
| Hungary | 2280.7 | 2275.2 | 2373.0 | 2409.3 | 2157.7 | 1835.9 | 1392.4 | 2102.1 | 1807.4 | 637.7 | −13.20% | −1643.0 | Declining |
| Poland | 909.0 | 1061.5 | 1187.2 | 1252.5 | 1772.5 | 2010.9 | 2352.7 | 2530.2 | 2958.5 | 1209.7e | +3.23% | +300.7 | Ascending |
| Czechia | 1177.4 | 1080.4 | 1016.0 | 1221.7 | 1312.6 | 1416.5 | 1273.4 | 1073.8 | 1037.4 | 330.1 | −13.18% | −847.3 | Declining |
| Bulgaria | 981.2 | 1038.2 | 1065.7 | 1060.9 | 827.8 | 852.8 | 741.2 | 671.7 | 676.0 | 212.6 | −15.63% | −768.6 | Declining |
| Slovakia | 753.8 | 600.6 | 702.0 | 736.5 | 717.4 | 637.8 | 511.8 | 690.5 | 642.0 | 201.4 | −13.64% | −552.4 | Declining |
| Croatia | 459.7 | 451.0 | 447.6 | 464.0 | 483.5 | 431.2 | 436.5 | 486.4 | 398.8 | 120.8 | −13.80% | −338.9 | Declining |
Supply Stability Scorecard: Reliability Rankings
Croatia ranks as the most stable lucerne supplier with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 24.4%, despite having the smallest production volume among the top eight at a mean of 417.95 thousand tonnes. Slovakia follows closely at 25.05% CV (mean 619.37 thousand tonnes), with Czechia at 25.87% CV (mean 1,093.93 thousand tonnes) rounding out the top three. All three countries maintained relatively consistent output despite the overall sector decline, each recording moderate year-to-year fluctuations rather than dramatic swings.
Italy, the largest producer, recorded a CV of 26.17% and ranks fourth in stability. Its maximum drawdown of −66.68% reflects the severity of its post-2020 decline. Spain shows a similar profile with 26.77% CV and a −62.77% drawdown.
Poland, despite being the only ascending producer, exhibits the highest volatility with a CV of 39.04%, reflecting its rapid expansion trajectory. Bulgaria also shows elevated variability at 30.4% CV. Across the board, all eight countries fall into the "Moderately" to "Volatile" stability categories, with no producer achieving a CV below 20%.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 417.95 | 24.40 | −69.71 | 2 | 1 |
| Slovakia | 619.37 | 25.05 | −68.63 | 3 | 2 |
| Czechia | 1093.93 | 25.87 | −68.18 | 5 | 3 |
| Italy | 24709.20 | 26.17 | −66.68 | 4 | 4 |
| Spain | 5427.20 | 26.77 | −62.77 | 4 | 5 |
| Hungary | 1927.13 | 27.13 | −64.72 | 4 | 6 |
| Bulgaria | 812.81 | 30.40 | −68.55 | 4 | 7 |
| Poland | 1724.48 | 39.04 | −59.11 | 5 | 8 |
Land Allocation Shift: 10-Year Cropland Transformation
Poland recorded the most dramatic land-use shift, expanding lucerne harvested area from 52.0 thousand hectares in 2016 to 125.8 thousand hectares (estimated) in 2025 — a 141.8% increase at a growth rate of +10.31% per year. This aggressive expansion explains Poland's production growth despite overall sector headwinds.
Hungary and Czechia also expanded lucerne area, at +1.0% and +1.52% per year respectively. Hungary's area grew from 190.4 to 208.2 thousand hectares (+9.4%), while Czechia added 8.7 thousand hectares (+14.5%).
Italy's lucerne area remained relatively stable at −0.35% per year, contracting slightly from 681.4 to 660.5 thousand hectares (−3.1%), with area peaking at 721.0 thousand hectares in 2019. This relative stability in land allocation contrasts with Italy's sharp production decline, suggesting that yield factors played a larger role than acreage reduction in the output drop. Spain experienced a notable contraction of −2.74% per year, falling from 270.9 to 210.9 thousand hectares (−22.1%), a land-use decline that tracked closely with its production trajectory. Slovakia and Croatia also contracted, at −0.72% and −0.83% per year respectively.
All values in 1 000 ha. e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Net Change (1 000 ha) | Growth Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 681.4 | 685.0 | 697.8 | 721.0 | 716.9 | 695.3 | 685.2 | 677.3 | 675.2 | 660.5 | −20.9 | −0.35% | Stable |
| Spain | 270.9 | 266.0 | 260.3 | 259.3 | 255.9 | 243.9 | 227.2 | 218.6 | 230.6 | 210.9p | −60.0 | −2.74% | Contracting |
| Hungary | 190.4 | 193.6 | 193.4 | 213.2 | 204.8 | 199.1 | 190.6 | 206.5 | 195.6 | 208.2 | +17.8 | +1.00% | Expanding |
| Poland | 52.0 | 61.0 | 56.0 | 57.7 | 71.0 | 78.7 | 92.2 | 97.4 | 112.2 | 125.8e | +73.8 | +10.31% | Expanding |
| Czechia | 60.0 | 62.5 | 65.4 | 74.9 | 79.4 | 80.1 | 75.3 | 66.5 | 66.1 | 68.8 | +8.7 | +1.52% | Expanding |
| Bulgaria | 84.7 | 88.2 | 91.6 | 96.4 | 92.1 | 92.8 | 86.7 | 81.9 | 79.7 | 85.8 | +1.1 | +0.14% | Stable |
| Slovakia | 47.2 | 47.1 | 49.1 | 52.2 | 52.6 | 51.9 | 48.3 | 46.6 | 45.9 | 44.2 | −3.0 | −0.72% | Contracting |
| Croatia | 23.6 | 26.1 | 24.2 | 29.0 | 26.3 | 28.1 | 27.1 | 27.1 | 25.1 | 21.9 | −1.7 | −0.83% | Contracting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country experienced the fastest growth in lucerne production?
Poland was the only EU member state among the top producers to record positive growth, with a +3.23% CAGR and a net increase of 300.7 thousand tonnes (+33.1%) over the decade.
Which EU country is the most stable lucerne supplier?
Croatia ranks first in supply stability with a CV of 24.4%, followed closely by Slovakia (25.05%) and Czechia (25.87%), despite having smaller production volumes.
Where is EU lucerne farmland expanding?
Poland led land expansion with a 141.8% increase in harvested area (+10.31% per year). Hungary and Czechia also expanded lucerne area at +1.0% and +1.52% per year respectively.
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.
