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% |
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 |
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% |
Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility
The 2021–2025 period reveals divergent production patterns across the EU’s top soya growers. Italy demonstrated consistent year-on-year growth from 923.47 thousand tonnes in 2021 to a peak of 1 125.58 thousand tonnes in 2024, before a marginal decline to 1 104.54 thousand tonnes in 2025. Germany showed a steady upward trajectory from 106.60 thousand tonnes to 130.80 thousand tonnes over the same period.
Romania exhibited the most volatile production pattern, swinging from a high of 367.74 thousand tonnes in 2021 to a low of 174.24 thousand tonnes in 2025 — a 53% decline across the window. Croatia and Hungary also showed pronounced fluctuations, with Hungary peaking sharply at 258.89 thousand tonnes in 2024 before dropping to 170.13 thousand tonnes in 2025. France and Slovakia displayed moderate stability within narrower bands. Poland’s 2025 data is flagged as estimated (e) with 98.06 thousand tonnes, reflecting provisional status.
| Member State | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 923.47 | 943.40 | 1 095.94 | 1 125.58 | 1 104.54 |
| France | 439.35 | 375.82 | 387.82 | 398.54 | 391.88 |
| Romania | 367.74 | 258.53 | 320.80 | 316.76 | 174.24 |
| Austria | 237.83 | 248.42 | 274.96 | 249.13 | 282.71 |
| Croatia | 227.87 | 194.77 | 213.02 | 255.08 | 197.70 |
| Hungary | 156.58 | 134.47 | 173.31 | 258.89 | 170.13 |
| Slovakia | 165.16 | 98.76 | 132.81 | 152.74 | 139.37 |
| Germany | 106.60 | 120.50 | 129.00 | 131.80 | 130.80 |
Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Soya Farmland
The EU dedicated approximately 4.2 million hectares to soya cultivation over the 2021–2025 period. Italy again led in land allocation, devoting over 1 573 thousand hectares across the five years, representing more than a third of the total EU soya area.
Italy’s 1 573.23 thousand hectares (314.65 thousand ha/yr) accounted for 37.3% of the EU’s total soya area. France followed with 798.88 thousand hectares (159.78 thousand ha/yr), and Romania with 689.17 thousand hectares (137.83 thousand ha/yr). Notably, Romania’s land allocation (16.4% of EU area) significantly exceeded its production share (10.3%), underscoring its lower yield efficiency. Conversely, Austria allocated 10.4% of EU soya area but produced only 9.3% of EU volume, while Germany used 5.1% of the area for 4.4% of production.
| Member State | Area (1 000 ha) | Annual Avg (1 000 ha/yr) | % of EU Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1 573.23 | 314.65 | 37.3% |
| France | 798.88 | 159.78 | 19.0% |
| Romania | 689.17 | 137.83 | 16.4% |
| Croatia | 441.69 | 88.34 | 10.5% |
| Austria | 436.66 | 87.33 | 10.4% |
| Hungary | 378.21 | 75.64 | 9.0% |
| Slovakia | 310.40 | 62.08 | 7.4% |
| Germany | 214.30 | 42.86 | 5.1% |
| Other EU | 922.94 | 184.59 | 21.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
