144.6 Million Tonnes of Wheat Production in Europe (2021–2025): A Complete Data Breakdown

EU Market Share: Who Dominates Production?

Over the 2021–2025 period, the EU-27 produced a combined 669,967 thousand tonnes of wheat and spelt. France alone accounted for 168,050 thousand tonnes, or 25.1 % of the EU total, cementing its position as Europe's breadbasket. Germany followed with 107,261 thousand tonnes (16.0 %), while Poland contributed 63,459 thousand tonnes (9.5 %). Romania, Bulgaria, and Spain each produced between 35,000 and 51,000 thousand tonnes, reflecting a broad geographic spread of wheat cultivation across the continent.

Agricultural Efficiency: Yield per Hectare

While France plants the largest wheat area, Germany achieves the highest yield efficiency among the top producers. Germany averaged 7.44 t/ha over the 2021–2025 period, peaking at 7.83 t/ha in 2025. France followed with an average of 6.88 t/ha, though its yield dropped to 5.97 t/ha in 2024 before rebounding to 7.26 t/ha in 2025. Poland averaged approximately 5.25 t/ha, while Turkey — a major producer outside the EU — registered a significantly lower average of 3.08 t/ha, highlighting stark efficiency gaps between Western and Eastern production systems.

Regional and Climatic Divides Across Europe

Wheat production is concentrated in Western and Central Europe, with France and Germany together contributing 41.1 % of the EU total. Eastern Europe forms a strong second tier: Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary together produced approximately 176,473 thousand tonnes, or 26.3 % of the EU total. Southern Europe, led by Spain and Italy, contributed 68,358 thousand tonnes (10.2 %), though Spanish output proved highly variable year-to-year. Turkey, as a southeastern neighbour outside the EU, added 83,562 thousand tonnes over four years (2021–2024), placing it among the top producers in the broader European theatre.

Temporal Trends: Market Stability vs. Volatility

EU-27 wheat production ranged from 119,410 thousand tonnes in 2024 to 144,591 thousand tonnes in 2025, a spread of 25,181 thousand tonnes that underscores significant year-on-year variability. France experienced its sharpest single-year drop in 2024, falling from 35,996 thousand tonnes in 2023 to 26,607 thousand tonnes — a 26.1 % decline — before rebounding 28.8 % to 34,256 thousand tonnes in 2025. Germany showed greater stability, ranging from 18,527 thousand tonnes (2024) to 23,152 thousand tonnes (2025). Spain exhibited the highest volatility: output fell from 8,565 thousand tonnes in 2021 to just 4,049 thousand tonnes in 2023 (a 52.7 % drop), then recovered to 8,754 thousand tonnes (provisional) in 2025. Poland maintained steady output throughout, fluctuating only between 11,894 and 13,254 thousand tonnes (2025e, estimated). Romania posted a strong gain in 2025, reaching 13,011 thousand tonnes — its highest in the 5-year window.

Land Allocation: How Countries Prioritize Farmland

Over the 2021–2025 period, the EU-27 dedicated 118,742 thousand hectares to wheat and spelt cultivation. France devoted the most land: 24,395 thousand hectares, or 20.5 % of the EU wheat area. Germany followed with 14,391 thousand hectares (12.1 %), while Poland allocated 12,158 thousand hectares (10.2 %) and Romania 11,241 thousand hectares (9.5 %). Turkey, despite lower yields, planted 27,230 thousand hectares of wheat over the same period — more than any single EU country — reflecting its extensive semi-arid cultivation footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions