![EU Soya Production Trends: Winners & Losers [2016–2025]](/images/soya_crop.avif)
10-Year Production Trajectory: Rising Stars & Fading Producers
Across the EU-27, total soya production rose from 2.5 million tonnes in 2016 to 2.8 million tonnes in 2025 — a net gain of 252 thousand tonnes (+9.9%, a 1.1% CAGR). The decade low came in 2022 at 2.5 million tonnes, and the decade high was 2024 at 3.1 million tonnes, reflecting a generally upward trend punctuated by weather-driven dips.
Italy retained its position as the EU's dominant soya producer, accounting for roughly 37% of total EU output. Its production held broadly stable at around 1.1 million tonnes (a -0.22% CAGR, -21.8 thousand tonnes net). France, the second-largest producer, posted a modest rise (a 1.63% CAGR, +52.9 thousand tonnes net), with its 2020 value carrying a break-in-series flag reflecting a methodological change in French reporting.
The decade's clearest rising producers were Austria (a 6.95% CAGR, +128.3 thousand tonnes net), Germany (a 13.1% CAGR, +87.6 thousand tonnes net), and Slovakia (a 4.4% CAGR, +44.7 thousand tonnes net), all classified as Ascending. Austria's soya output grew from 154.4 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 282.7 thousand tonnes in 2025, while Germany's nearly tripled from just 43.2 thousand tonnes to 130.8 thousand tonnes — albeit from a small base.
Romania was the decade's steepest decliner, with soya output falling from 278.7 thousand tonnes in 2016 to just 174.2 thousand tonnes in 2025 (a -5.08% CAGR, -37.5% net), after peaking at 492.7 thousand tonnes in 2018. Croatia also declined notably (a -2.31% CAGR, -46.4 thousand tonnes net). Hungary and Italy were the most stable producers by trajectory, with CAGRs close to zero.
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | CAGR | Net Change (1 000 t) | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT | 1126.3 | 1062.2 | 1186.3 | 1042.8 | 1005.6 | 923.5 | 943.4 | 1095.9 | 1125.6 | 1104.5 | -0.22% | -21.8 | Stable |
| FR | 338.9 | 414.3 | 398.5 | 428.5 | 406.8b | 439.4 | 375.8 | 387.8 | 398.5 | 391.9 | +1.63% | +52.9 | Ascending |
| RO | 278.7 | 416.4 | 492.7 | 440.1 | 340.8 | 367.7 | 258.5 | 320.8 | 316.8 | 174.2 | -5.08% | -104.4 | Declining |
| HR | 244.1 | 207.8 | 245.2 | 244.3 | 266.0 | 227.9 | 194.8 | 213.0 | 255.1 | 197.7 | -2.31% | -46.4 | Declining |
| AT | 154.4 | 195.7 | 186.5 | 217.8 | 204.9 | 237.8 | 248.4 | 275.0 | 249.1 | 282.7 | +6.95% | +128.3 | Ascending |
| HU | 184.7 | 179.3 | 181.2 | 169.6 | 165.8 | 156.6 | 134.5 | 173.3 | 258.9 | 170.1 | -0.91% | -14.6 | Stable |
| SK | 94.6 | 104.8 | 107.0 | 119.7 | 132.2 | 165.2 | 98.8 | 132.8 | 152.7 | 139.4 | +4.4% | +44.7 | Ascending |
| DE | 43.2 | 65.7 | 58.7 | 84.1 | 90.5 | 106.6 | 120.5 | 129.0 | 131.8 | 130.8 | +13.1% | +87.6 | Ascending |
| EU-27 | 2542.8 | 2743.0 | 2912.1 | 2813.3 | 2681.8 | 2712.9 | 2506.3 | 2862.2 | 3070.9 | 2794.8 | +1.1% | +252.0 | Ascending |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
Supply Stability Scorecard: Reliability Rankings
Volume leadership and supply reliability do not always align. Ranking the top eight producers by coefficient of variation (CV) — where a lower CV means steadier year-to-year output — reveals which countries offer the most dependable soya supply.
France is the single most stable supplier of the decade (CV 6.7%, a remarkably low value), ranking second by volume but first by reliability. Italy follows closely (CV 7.5%, max drawdown -12.1%), providing both high volume and strong stability — an unusual combination that makes Italy the most balanced soya supplier in the EU.
The mid-tier includes Croatia (CV 10.33%, max drawdown -22.49%), Austria (CV 17.15%), and Hungary (CV 17.15%). Notably, Austria and Hungary share an identical CV but for very different reasons: Austria's drawdown is a modest -9.39% despite the variability, while Hungary's maximum single-year drop reaches -34.28%, reflecting its volatile production pattern.
At the volatile end, Slovakia (CV 18.06%, max drawdown -40.2%), Romania (CV 26.04%, max drawdown -44.99%), and Germany (CV 32.18%) are the least reliable of the leading producers. Germany's high CV is partly a base-effect artefact of its rapid expansion from a small starting point — its maximum drawdown is only -10.65%, the shallowest among all eight, suggesting the volatility is on the upside. Romania's extreme drawdown of nearly 45% reflects its structural production decline.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR | 398.05 | 6.7% | -14.46% | 4 | 1 |
| IT | 1061.63 | 7.5% | -12.1% | 4 | 2 |
| HR | 229.58 | 10.33% | -22.49% | 5 | 3 |
| AT | 225.22 | 17.15% | -9.39% | 5 | 4 |
| HU | 177.4 | 17.15% | -34.28% | 6 | 5 |
| SK | 124.71 | 18.06% | -40.2% | 5 | 6 |
| RO | 340.68 | 26.04% | -44.99% | 5 | 7 |
| DE | 96.09 | 32.18% | -10.65% | 5 | 8 |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
Land Allocation Shift: 10-Year Cropland Transformation
The land dedicated to soya tells a story of rapid expansion across much of the EU. EU-27 harvested soya area grew from 831.2 thousand hectares in 2016 to 1,014.7 thousand hectares in 2025 — a net gain of 183.5 thousand hectares (+22.1%, a 2.2% CAGR). This contrasts with the more modest production growth, implying some yield pressure as cultivation expanded into less optimal land.
The leading soya area expanders were Germany (+174.1%, a 11.85% annualized rate), Austria (+76.7%, 6.53%/yr), and Slovakia (+76.7%, 6.53%/yr), all classified as Expanding. These three countries together added over 92 thousand hectares of soya area, reflecting a concerted shift toward oilseed cultivation in Central Europe. Hungary also posted strong area growth (+30.1%, 2.97%/yr), while France expanded more moderately (+10.0%, 1.06%/yr).
Italy, the largest producer by volume, kept its soya area broadly stable (+3.4%, 0.37%/yr, classified as Stable), as did Romania (-1.0%, -0.11%/yr). Croatia showed modest expansion (+8.2%, 0.88%/yr).
Comparing production CAGR against area CAGR reveals divergent efficiency patterns. In France, production (+1.63%) outpaced area (+1.06%), indicating modest yield gains. In Austria, production (+6.95%) and area (+6.53%) grew almost in lockstep, suggesting extensification drove the expansion. In Romania, area stayed nearly flat (-0.11%) while production collapsed (-5.08%), pointing to significant yield deterioration — the most concerning signal in the dataset.
All values in 1 000 ha. b = break in series, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Net Change (1 000 ha) | Growth Rate | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT | 288.1 | 322.4 | 326.6 | 273.3 | 256.1 | 285.5 | 342.5 | 310.7 | 336.7 | 297.8 | +9.7 | +0.37% | Stable |
| FR | 136.5 | 141.8 | 153.8 | 163.8 | 187.1b | 154.4 | 183.9 | 157.8 | 152.7 | 150.2 | +13.6 | +1.06% | Expanding |
| RO | 127.3 | 165.1 | 169.4 | 158.2 | 168.9 | 139.6 | 135.8 | 141.7 | 146.0 | 126.0 | -1.2 | -0.11% | Stable |
| HR | 78.6 | 85.1 | 77.1 | 78.3 | 86.2 | 86.3 | 90.7 | 76.7 | 103.0 | 85.1 | +6.5 | +0.88% | Expanding |
| AT | 49.8 | 64.5 | 67.6 | 69.2 | 68.5 | 76.7 | 93.7 | 88.5 | 89.7 | 88.0 | +38.2 | +6.53% | Expanding |
| HU | 61.0 | 75.7 | 62.1 | 58.2 | 58.7 | 62.1 | 66.3 | 58.1 | 112.3 | 79.4 | +18.4 | +2.97% | Expanding |
| SK | 34.9 | 43.9 | 45.3 | 47.6 | 51.1 | 64.1 | 66.7 | 50.1 | 67.8 | 61.6 | +26.8 | +6.53% | Expanding |
| DE | 15.8 | 19.1 | 24.1 | 28.9 | 33.8 | 34.2 | 51.5 | 44.8 | 40.5 | 43.3 | +27.5 | +11.85% | Expanding |
| EU-27 | 831.2 | 962.4 | 955.4 | 907.9 | 942.9 | N/A | 1094.7 | 985.1 | 1119.0 | 1014.7 | +183.5 | +2.2% | Expanding |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
EU Market Share: Who Dominates Soya Production?
Over the five-year window from 2021 to 2025, EU soya cultivation yielded 13.9 million tonnes of harvested production. Italy alone contributed 5.2 million tonnes, more than double the output of the second-largest producer, France. Together, the top four member states — Italy, France, Romania, and Austria — accounted for over 70% of total EU soya production.
Italy’s 5.2 million tonnes (1 038.59 thousand t/yr) represents a commanding lead — the country’s soya output exceeded the combined production of France and Romania, the next two largest producers. France produced 1 993.41 thousand tonnes (398.68 thousand t/yr), while Romania contributed 1 438.07 thousand tonnes (287.61 thousand t/yr).
| Member State | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 5 192.93 | 1 038.59 | 37.2% |
| France | 1 993.41 | 398.68 | 14.3% |
| Romania | 1 438.07 | 287.61 | 10.3% |
| Austria | 1 293.05 | 258.61 | 9.3% |
| Croatia | 1 088.44 | 217.69 | 7.8% |
| Hungary | 893.38 | 178.68 | 6.4% |
| Slovakia | 688.84 | 137.77 | 4.9% |
| Germany | 618.70 | 123.74 | 4.4% |
| Other EU | 1 740.33 | 348.07 | 12.5% |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare
While Italy dominates in absolute volume, its productivity per hectare also leads among top producers. Austrian and German farmers also achieved notably high yields, demonstrating that space efficiency does not necessarily correlate with total production scale.
Italy’s average yield of 3.31 t/ha across the five-year window substantially exceeded the EU average, peaking at 3.71 t/ha in 2025. Austria and Germany also demonstrated strong efficiency, averaging 2.97 t/ha and 2.92 t/ha respectively. Romania, despite being the third-largest producer by volume, registered the lowest average yield among top producers at 2.07 t/ha, suggesting that its production footprint is driven more by cultivated area than by per-hectare productivity.
| Member State | Avg Yield (t/ha) | Range (t/ha) |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 3.31 | 2.75–3.71 |
| Austria | 2.97 | 2.65–3.21 |
| Germany | 2.92 | 2.34–3.26 |
| France | 2.52 | 2.05–2.85 |
| Croatia | 2.47 | 2.15–2.78 |
| Hungary | 2.40 | 2.03–2.98 |
| Slovakia | 2.24 | 1.48–2.65 |
| Romania | 2.07 | 1.38–2.63 |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe
Soya production in the EU is heavily concentrated in two broad belts: the Mediterranean south and the central-eastern plains. Italy stands alone in the south as the dominant producer, while a dense cluster of central and eastern European states — Austria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovakia — collectively form the heart of EU soya output.
Central and Eastern Europe collectively accounts for 5.4 million tonnes (38.7% of EU total), slightly edging out Italy’s individual share. Western Europe, led by France and Germany, contributed 2.6 million tonnes (18.7%). The Adriatic and Danubian basins of Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia provide a favourable climate for soya cultivation, with Austria bridging the gap between the western and eastern growing zones.
| Region | Member States | Total (1 000 t) | Annual Avg (1 000 t/yr) | Share of EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Europe | Italy | 5 192.93 | 1 038.59 | 37.2% |
| Western Europe | France, Germany | 2 612.11 | 522.42 | 18.7% |
| Central and Eastern Europe | Austria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia | 5 401.78 | 1 080.36 | 38.7% |
| Other EU | Remaining member states | 740.33 | 148.07 | 5.3% |
Source: Eurostat apro_cpsh1, 2016–2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Which EU country increased soya production the most from 2016 to 2025?
Austria grew fastest among the top eight, with a 6.95% compound annual growth rate and a net gain of 128.3 thousand tonnes (+83.1%). Germany posted an even higher CAGR of 13.1% but from a much smaller base. At the other extreme, Romania recorded the steepest decline with a -5.08% CAGR and a net loss of 104.4 thousand tonnes (-37.5%).
Which country is the most stable soya supplier in the EU?
France is the most stable top producer, with the lowest coefficient of variation (6.7%) and a maximum single-year drop of -14.46%. Italy ranked second (CV 7.5%), combining the largest production volume with a shallow max drawdown of -12.1%.
Is EU soya farmland expanding or shrinking?
EU-27 harvested soya area expanded by 183.5 thousand hectares (+22.1%) between 2016 and 2025. The most rapid expansion occurred in Germany (+174.1%), Austria (+76.7%), and Slovakia (+76.7%), while Italy and Romania kept their soya area broadly stable.
Which EU country produces the most soya?
Italy is the largest soya producer in the European Union, contributing 5.2 million tonnes over 2021–2025 — 37.2% of the EU total, more than double the output of second-ranked France.
How much soya does the EU produce annually?
The EU produced an average of 2.8 million tonnes of soya per year between 2021 and 2025, with annual totals ranging from 2.5 million tonnes (2022) to 3.1 million tonnes (2024).
Which EU country has the highest soya yield per hectare?
Italy achieved the highest average yield among major producers at 3.31 tonnes per hectare, followed by Austria (2.97 t/ha) and Germany (2.92 t/ha).
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.
