EU Sorghum Production 2021–2025: 4.1 Million Tonnes and France's 39.5 % Market Share — A Complete Data Breakdown
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a drought-tolerant cereal grain cultivated across Southern and Western Europe, has established a niche but growing presence in the European Union's crop portfolio. Between 2021 and 2025, the EU-27 produced 4.08 million tonnes of sorghum (815 thousand t/yr), with France accounting for nearly 40 % of total output. Italy and Hungary follow as the second and third largest producers, while Austria achieves the highest average yield per hectare. This article examines the five core dimensions of the EU sorghum market — market share, yield efficiency, regional divides, production stability, and land allocation — drawn from the latest Eurostat data.
EU Market Share: Who Dominates Production?
Over the 2021–2025 harvest period, France produced 1.61 million tonnes of sorghum (322 thousand t/yr), representing 39.5 % of the total EU-27 volume of 4.08 million tonnes (815 thousand t/yr). Italy contributed 1.22 million tonnes (244 thousand t/yr), followed by Hungary with 636 thousand tonnes (127 thousand t/yr) and Austria with 180 thousand tonnes (36 thousand t/yr). These four member states together supplied 89.4 % of all EU sorghum.
France's leadership is reinforced by its substantial land allocation, the largest in the EU. Italy's steady output positions it as a reliable second pillar of the EU market.
| Member State | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1 610 | 322 | 39.5 % |
| Italy | 1 221 | 244 | 29.9 % |
| Hungary | 636 | 127 | 15.6 % |
| Austria | 180 | 36 | 4.4 % |
| Romania | 118 | 24 | 2.9 % |
| Spain | 111 | 22 | 2.7 % |
| Slovakia | 106 | 21 | 2.6 % |
| Bulgaria | 54 | 11 | 1.3 % |
| Greece | 34 | 7 | 0.8 % |
| EU-27 Total | 4 076 | 815 | 100 % |
Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare
While France leads in absolute volume, Austria achieves the highest average yield among the top producers. Over the five-year period, Austria averaged 7.37 t/ha, outpacing Italy (5.92 t/ha), France (4.80 t/ha), and Hungary (3.90 t/ha).
Austria's yield advantage is substantial, consistently remaining above 6.6 t/ha every year and peaking at 8.41 t/ha in 2021. Italy shows remarkable consistency with all five annual readings between 5.48 and 6.15 t/ha, demonstrating the most stable yield profile among major producers.
| Member State | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 5-Year Avg (t/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 8.41 | 7.37 | 7.18 | 6.63 | 7.45 | 7.37 |
| Italy | 6.15 | 5.48 | 6.02 | 5.92 | 6.00 | 5.92 |
| France | 5.67 | 4.23 | 5.57 | 4.45 | 4.19 | 4.80 |
| Hungary | 4.01 | 2.41 | 5.00 | 3.98 | 3.66 | 3.90 |
Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe
Sorghum production is concentrated in Western and Southern Europe. France alone commands 39.5 % of EU output, while Southern Europe — Italy, Spain, and Greece — contributes approximately 33.5 % of total production.
Eastern European countries including Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Bulgaria account for 22.4 % of output. Austria, representing Central Europe, adds 4.4 %.
| Region | Member States | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | Share of EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Europe | FR | 1 610 | 322 | 39.5 % |
| Southern Europe | IT, ES, EL | 1 366 | 273 | 33.5 % |
| Eastern Europe | HU, RO, SK, BG | 914 | 183 | 22.4 % |
| Central Europe | AT | 180 | 36 | 4.4 % |
Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility
EU sorghum production has trended upward across the five-year window, from 819 thousand tonnes in 2021 to 881 thousand tonnes in 2025, with a peak of 1 005 thousand tonnes in 2024 — a 22.7 % increase over the period.
France shows notable volatility, with production swinging from 382 thousand tonnes (2021) down to 211 thousand tonnes (2022) — a 45 % drop — before recovering to 447 thousand tonnes in 2024.
Italy stands out as the most stable major producer, with output ranging narrowly from 198 thousand tonnes (2022) to 289 thousand tonnes (2025) — a variation of less than 46 % from trough to peak. Hungary displays the largest relative swings, dropping to 48 thousand tonnes in 2022 before surging to 168 thousand tonnes in 2025 (3.5x growth).
| Year | France | Italy | Hungary | Austria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 382 | 231 | 95 | 37 |
| 2022 | 211 | 198 | 48 | 26 |
| 2023 | 304 | 247 | 160 | 37 |
| 2024 | 447 | 256 | 165 | 36 |
| 2025 | 265 | 289 | 168 | 43 |
Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland
The EU dedicated 871 thousand hectares to sorghum over the 2021–2025 period (174 thousand ha/yr). France accounted for 336 thousand hectares (67 thousand ha/yr; 38.5 %), the largest share of any member state. Italy allocated 206 thousand hectares (41 thousand ha/yr), while Hungary devoted 163 thousand hectares (33 thousand ha/yr).
Notably, while France allocates the most land to sorghum, Austria achieves significantly higher output per hectare (7.37 t/ha versus France's 4.80 t/ha), making Austria the most land-efficient producer in the EU.
| Member State | Area (1 000 ha) | Annual Avg (1 000 ha/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 336 | 67 | 38.5 % |
| Italy | 206 | 41 | 23.7 % |
| Hungary | 163 | 33 | 18.7 % |
| Romania | 52 | 10 | 5.9 % |
| Spain | 28 | 6 | 3.2 % |
| Slovakia | 26 | 5 | 3.0 % |
| Austria | 24 | 5 | 2.8 % |
| Bulgaria | 24 | 5 | 2.8 % |
| Greece | 11 | 2 | 1.2 % |
| EU-27 Total | 871 | 174 | 100 % |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country produces the most sorghum?
France is the largest sorghum producer in the European Union, accounting for 39.5 % of total EU output with 1.61 million tonnes harvested between 2021 and 2025 (322 thousand t/yr average).
How does sorghum yield compare between Austria and France?
Austria consistently achieves the highest yields among major producers, averaging 7.37 t/ha over 2021–2025 compared to France's 4.80 t/ha — a 54 % efficiency advantage.
Why is Hungarian sorghum production growing rapidly?
Hungarian sorghum output expanded from 48 thousand tonnes in 2022 to 168 thousand tonnes in 2025, driven by expanding cultivated area (from 20 to 46 thousand hectares) as farmers adopt the drought-tolerant crop in the continental climate zone.
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.