EU soybean crop to fall 21% due to heat and smaller area

EU soybean production in 2026 could decline by 21% year on year to 2.2 mln tons, according to European Commission estimates. The main reasons are a reduction in planted area and lower expected yields following severe heat that affected large parts of Europe in June.

Total EU pulse production is forecast at just over 6.7 mln tons, down 7% from last year. However, this would still remain above the five-year average.

Feed peas are expected to become the EU’s largest pulse crop, accounting for around 35% of total production. Output is estimated at 2.4 mln tons, down 3% y/y. The decline is mainly due to lower yields, while planted area increased by around 1%.

At the same time, field bean production could rise by around 9% to 1.6 mln tons due to expanded acreage. Sweet lupin production is forecast at 524 thsd tons, up 3% from last year.

UFOP notes that EU farmers continue to show interest in growing pulses and are expanding acreage in some cases. The organization also stresses the need for further support for these crops due to their role in crop rotations, improving farming resilience and reducing dependence on external sources of plant protein.

Tags: EU, soybean, soybean crop, heat