The 2025 Scoreboard: Poland First, Italy Second
The ranking of the EU's top apple producers for 2025 is a familiar one: in ten years the order at the top has not changed. The EU-27 harvested 12 239.2 thousand tonnes, Poland led with 3 821.8 thousand tonnes (31.2%) and Italy followed with 2 412.9 (19.7%).
Poland's lead is not marginal: 1 408.9 thousand tonnes separate the two, which makes the Polish crop 58.4% larger than the Italian one. Together they account for 50.9% of the EU harvest — more than the other 25 member states combined. France is third at 1 973.1 thousand tonnes (16.1%), Germany fourth at 1 137.8 (9.3%) and Spain fifth at 562.6 (4.6%); those five countries hold 80.9% of the EU crop.
The scale gap shows up in Poland's weakest year as well. Its smallest harvest of the window, 2 441.4 thousand tonnes in 2017, was still 28.5 thousand tonnes above Italy's 2025 result of 2 412.9 — Italy's fourth-best year of the decade. Poland topped the EU apple ranking in all ten years from 2016 to 2025; the lead never changed hands.
Shares of the EU-27 total of 12 239.2 thousand tonnes in 2025, dataset apro_cpsh1. Rank within the EU-27.
| Country | 2025 production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 3 821.8 | 31.2% | 1 |
| Italy | 2 412.9 | 19.7% | 2 |
| France | 1 973.1 | 16.1% | 3 |
| Germany | 1 137.8 | 9.3% | 4 |
| Spain | 562.6 | 4.6% | 5 |
| Poland + Italy combined | 6 234.7 | 50.9% | — |
Swing and Steady: the Volatility Head-to-Head
Charting Poland against Italy year by year shows two different producers. Poland's series opens at 3 604.3 thousand tonnes in 2016, drops to 2 441.4 in 2017 and climbs back to a decade peak of 4 264.7 in 2022 — a swing of 74.7% from trough to peak. The 2017 low sits 42.8% below the 2022 high.
Italy trades amplitude for steadiness. Its harvest ran between 1 912.3 thousand tonnes in 2017 and 2 467.0 in 2018 — a range of 554.7 thousand tonnes, or 22.5% of its own peak. Over 2016-2025 Poland's coefficient of variation is 14.2% against Italy's 7.0%.
The endpoints tell the same story in reverse. Poland ends the window 6.0% above its 2016 level (+0.65% per year compound); Italy ends it 1.7% below (−0.19% per year). On the 2025 numbers the volume title is Poland's, but the stability title belongs to Italy.
Poland and Italy apples, 2016-2025. Yield = production ÷ area, rounded to two decimals, dataset apro_cpsh1.
| Indicator | Poland | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 production (1 000 t) | 3 821.8 | 2 412.9 |
| 2016 production (1 000 t) | 3 604.3 | 2 455.6 |
| Net change 2016-2025 | +6.0% | −1.7% |
| CAGR 2016-2025 | +0.65%/yr | −0.19%/yr |
| CV 2016-2025 | 14.2% | 7.0% |
| Best year (1 000 t) | 2022 — 4 264.7 | 2018 — 2 467.0 |
| Weakest year (1 000 t) | 2017 — 2 441.4 | 2017 — 1 912.3 |
| 2025 yield (t/ha) | 26.18 | 44.83 |
The Rest of the Podium: France, Germany and Hungary
The rest of the podium moves differently. France is the quiet gainer of the trio: it grew from 1 806.9 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 1 973.1 in 2025, a rise of 9.2% (+0.98% per year), and 2025 is its highest harvest of the whole window; its low point was 1 633.1 in 2021. Its share of the EU crop moved from 14.9% to 16.1%.
Germany gained slightly more in relative terms — 10.2%, from 1 032.9 to 1 137.8 thousand tonnes (+1.08% per year) — but from a much smaller base and with a rougher line: its 2017 harvest fell to 596.7 and its 2018 peak of 1 198.5 still sits above the 2025 level. Germany's CV of 15.9% is in fact higher than Poland's 14.2%.
Hungary is the collapse of the decade. Its apple harvest fell from 497.1 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 208.8 in 2025, a decade low and a net change of −58.0% (−9.19% per year). The area behind it shrank 33.3%, from 32.5 to 21.7 thousand hectares, and its share of the EU crop dropped from 4.1% to 1.7%. At 9.63 t/ha in 2025 its orchards yielded less than half of Poland's 26.18.
France, Germany and Hungary apples, 2016-2025. Yield = production ÷ area, rounded to two decimals, dataset apro_cpsh1.
| Indicator | France | Germany | Hungary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 production (1 000 t) | 1 973.1 | 1 137.8 | 208.8 |
| 2016 production (1 000 t) | 1 806.9 | 1 032.9 | 497.1 |
| Net change 2016-2025 | +9.2% | +10.2% | −58.0% |
| CAGR 2016-2025 | +0.98%/yr | +1.08%/yr | −9.19%/yr |
| CV 2016-2025 | 5.8% | 15.9% | 26.3% |
| Share of EU, 2025 | 16.1% | 9.3% | 1.7% |
| Best year (1 000 t) | 2025 — 1 973.1 | 2018 — 1 198.5 | 2018 — 678.8 |
| 2025 yield (t/ha) | 38.14 | 34.81 | 9.63 |
Volatility and the Buyers' View: What the Duel Means for Supply
Set on the same harvest-volatility scale (CV %), the ranking inverts. France's CV of 5.8% is the lowest of the major growers, Italy follows at 7.0%, the EU-27 aggregate sits at 7.7%, Poland reaches 14.2%, Germany 15.9% and Hungary 26.3%.
That ordering matters for anyone sourcing apples. A series as volatile as Poland's moves the EU total by itself: the Polish harvest rose 74.7% between 2017 and 2022, then fell 13.1% in 2024 (3 892.7 to 3 384.5 thousand tonnes) before recovering 12.9% to 3 821.8 in 2025. Italy's contribution is easier to plan around — no year of the window pushed it more than 22.5% below its own peak.
The land behind each harvest explains part of the difference. Poland's 2025 crop came from 146.0 thousand hectares, a rate of 26.18 t/ha, and that area is 11.4% smaller than in 2016 (164.8 thousand hectares). Italy harvested 2 412.9 thousand tonnes from 53.8 thousand hectares, or 44.83 t/ha — 71.2% more fruit per hectare on 2.7 times less land.
Coefficient of variation of annual apple production, 2016-2025, with each producer's 2025 share of the EU-27 crop, dataset apro_cpsh1.
| Region | CV 2016-2025 | Share of EU, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| France | 5.8% | 16.1% |
| Italy | 7.0% | 19.7% |
| EU-27 | 7.7% | 100% |
| Poland | 14.2% | 31.2% |
| Germany | 15.9% | 9.3% |
| Hungary | 26.3% | 1.7% |
The EU Total and the Room for Everyone Else
The EU-27's own production line over 2016-2025 is the flattest of the set. It started at 12 112.2 thousand tonnes in 2016 and ended at 12 239.2 in 2025 — a net gain of 1.0%, or 0.12% per year compound. Between those points it fell to 9 594.9 in 2017 (28.0% below the 2018 peak of 13 333.4) and rose to that 13 333.4 in 2018.
The aggregate is also steadier than Poland (CV 7.7% against 14.2%), but slightly bumpier than Italy alone (7.0%), because it carries the Polish swings along with everyone else's.
The room left for others follows from the top-two share. Poland and Italy hold 50.9% of the 2025 crop, so the other 25 member states divide the remaining 49.1%. France, Germany and Spain take another 30.0% between them (16.1%, 9.3% and 4.6%), leaving 19.1% for the 22 countries below fifth place. On the decade's numbers the concentration at the top has not loosened: Poland led in all ten years, and the two leaders still hold just over half of the EU crop between them.
EU-27 apple production and the two rivals' output, dataset apro_cpsh1, window 2016-2025.
| Year | EU-27 (1 000 t) | Poland (1 000 t) | Italy (1 000 t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 12 112.2 | 3 604.3 | 2 455.6 |
| 2017 | 9 594.9 | 2 441.4 | 1 912.3 |
| 2018 | 13 333.4 | 3 999.5 | 2 467.0 |
| 2019 | 11 585.4 | 3 080.6 | 2 303.7 |
| 2020 | 11 957.2 | 3 555.2 | 2 462.4 |
| 2021 | 12 405.5 | 4 067.4 | 2 211.7 |
| 2022 | 12 540.7 | 4 264.7 | 2 256.2 |
| 2023 | 12 052.5 | 3 892.7 | 2 267.8 |
| 2024 | 11 523.8 | 3 384.5 | 2 398.5 |
| 2025 | 12 239.2 | 3 821.8 | 2 412.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most apples in the EU?
Poland, with 3 821.8 thousand tonnes in 2025 — 31.2% of the EU-27 total. It led the ranking in every year from 2016 to 2025; Italy came second with 2 412.9 thousand tonnes (19.7%).
How much of EU apple production comes from Poland and Italy?
50.9% in 2025: 6 234.7 of the EU-27's 12 239.2 thousand tonnes. Poland alone accounts for 31.2% and Italy 19.7%.
Whose apple harvest is more stable, Poland's or Italy's?
Italy's: its coefficient of variation over 2016-2025 is 7.0% against Poland's 14.2%. Italy stayed between 1 912.3 (2017) and 2 467.0 thousand tonnes (2018), while Poland ran from 2 441.4 (2017) to 4 264.7 (2022).
What happened to Hungary's apple crop?
It fell 58.0% across the window, from 497.1 thousand tonnes in 2016 to a decade low of 208.8 in 2025 — a 9.19% decline per year. Its share of the EU crop dropped from 4.1% to 1.7% and its area shrank 33.3%.
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.
