7.3 Million Tonnes of EU Plum Production 2021–2025: A Complete Data Breakdown
The European Union produced a total of 7 304 thousand tonnes of plums between 2021 and 2025, averaging 1 461 thousand tonnes per year. EU plum production statistics reveal Romania as the dominant force, contributing nearly half of all EU plums over this period, while Italy leads in yield efficiency at 14.1 tonnes per hectare. Eastern Europe accounts for nearly 60% of the bloc's total output, with the Carpathian Basin and Balkan region forming the core of European plum cultivation.
EU Market Share: Who Dominates Production?
Romania is the undisputed leader in EU plum production, accounting for 3 287 thousand tonnes over the five-year period — a staggering 45.0% of the EU total. Far behind, Italy ranks second with 827 thousand tonnes (11.3%), followed closely by Spain with 790 thousand tonnes (10.8%), France with 729 thousand tonnes (10.0%), and Poland rounding out the top five with 591 thousand tonnes (8.1%).
Together, the top five producers accounted for 85.2% of all EU plum production, with Romania alone exceeding the combined output of the next four largest producers.
| Member State | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 3 286.5 | 657.3 | 45.0% |
| Italy | 826.8 | 165.4 | 11.3% |
| Spain | 789.8 | 158.0 | 10.8% |
| France | 729.0 | 145.8 | 10.0% |
| Poland | 590.8 | 118.2 | 8.1% |
| Bulgaria | 255.7 | 51.1 | 3.5% |
| Germany | 251.7 | 50.3 | 3.4% |
| Hungary | 169.1 | 33.8 | 2.3% |
| Greece | 125.0 | 25.0 | 1.7% |
| Portugal | 90.7 | 18.1 | 1.2% |
| Other EU27 | 188.9 | 37.8 | 2.6% |
Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare
While Romania dominates by total volume, the yield-per-hectare ranking tells a different story. Italy achieves the highest average yield at 14.1 tonnes per hectare, followed by Spain at 13.6 t/ha. Romania, despite its massive output, manages a moderate 9.8 t/ha due to its extensive planted area. France produces 9.5 t/ha, while Poland trails at 7.0 t/ha.
Italy and Spain produce their plum volumes on a fraction of the land used by Romania — 58.5 and 58.1 thousand hectares respectively compared to Romania's 334.8 thousand hectares — achieving more than double the per-hectare yield.
| Member State | Production (1 000 t) | Area (1 000 ha) | Yield (t/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 826.8 | 58.5 | 14.1 |
| Spain | 789.8 | 58.1 | 13.6 |
| Romania | 3 286.5 | 334.8 | 9.8 |
| France | 729.0 | 76.8 | 9.5 |
| Poland | 590.8 | 84.8 | 7.0 |
Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe
Plum production in the EU is heavily skewed toward Eastern Europe, which accounts for 59.5% of the total. Southern Europe contributes a quarter, while Western Europe produces just under 15%.
The Nordic and Baltic countries together produce less than 0.1% of EU plums. The Carpathian Basin and Balkan region — encompassing Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary — form the core of European plum cultivation.
| Region | Member States | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | Share of EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Europe | RO, PL, BG, HU, CZ, SK | 4 344.6 | 868.9 | 59.5% |
| Southern Europe | IT, ES, EL, PT, HR, CY, SI, MT | 1 881.2 | 376.2 | 25.8% |
| Western Europe | FR, DE, AT, NL, BE, LU, IE | 1 071.8 | 214.4 | 14.7% |
| Nordics & Baltics | SE, DK, FI, EE, LV, LT | 6.5 | 1.3 | 0.1% |
Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility
Over the 2021–2025 period, the top producers exhibited markedly different stability profiles.
Romania's production followed a continuous downward trajectory, falling from 807 thousand tonnes in 2021 to 566 thousand tonnes in 2025 — a decline of nearly 30%. This gradual erosion contrasts with Italy, which maintained remarkable stability around an annual average of 165 thousand tonnes, ranging narrowly between 138 and 187 thousand tonnes.
France showed the most volatility, surging from 100 thousand tonnes in 2022 to 208 thousand tonnes in 2023 before receding. Spain oscillated in a moderate band of 136 to 179 thousand tonnes, while Poland fluctuated between 95 and 133 thousand tonnes.
| Member State | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 807.2 | 665.7 | 645.1 | 602.6 | 565.9 |
| Italy | 137.8 | 187.4 | 161.0 | 170.2 | 170.6 |
| Spain | 179.3 | 157.4 | 162.9 | 135.8 | 154.4 |
| France | 106.3 | 100.0 | 207.6 | 170.5 | 144.6 |
| Poland | 117.4 | 133.2 | 127.1 | 95.2 | 117.9 |
Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland
The EU dedicated 780 thousand hectares to plum orchards over the 2021–2025 period, averaging 156 thousand hectares per year. Romania alone accounts for 335 thousand hectares (42.9% of the EU total), reflecting extensive — though less intensive — cultivation across the country.
Poland's second-place ranking in area (84.8 thousand ha) contrasts with its lower production rank, confirming its below-average yields. The five largest producers by area account for 78.7% of the EU's total plum orchard footprint.
| Member State | Area (1 000 ha) | Annual Avg (1 000 ha/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 334.8 | 67.0 | 42.9% |
| Poland | 84.8 | 17.0 | 10.9% |
| France | 76.8 | 15.4 | 9.9% |
| Italy | 58.5 | 11.7 | 7.5% |
| Spain | 58.1 | 11.6 | 7.5% |
| Bulgaria | 48.8 | 9.8 | 6.3% |
| Hungary | 34.6 | 6.9 | 4.4% |
| Germany | 24.0 | 4.8 | 3.1% |
| Other EU27 | 59.2 | 11.8 | 7.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country produces the most plums?
Romania is the largest plum producer in the European Union, contributing 3 287 thousand tonnes over 2021–2025 — 45.0% of the EU total.
How does plum yield efficiency vary across top EU producers?
Italy achieves the highest yield at 14.1 tonnes per hectare, followed by Spain at 13.6 t/ha, while Romania — despite being the largest producer by volume — yields only 9.8 t/ha due to its extensive orchard area.
What is the total land area dedicated to plum orchards in the EU?
EU27 plum orchards covered 780 thousand hectares cumulatively from 2021 to 2025, with an annual average of 156 thousand hectares. Romania accounts for 42.9% of this total.
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.