Europe has harvested a record soybean crop

This year’s soybean harvest in Europe increased by almost one million tons to more than 13 million tons compared to 2023. This is a record high due to a significant increase in planted area, up 44% on last year’s level. The harvest in Ukraine also broke the record, where more than 6 million tons were harvested, which is 25% more than in 2023.

At the same time, in the EU countries, the area under crops increased by 10% compared to 2023, but the harvest is lower by 3.4%. It amounted to just under 2.8 million tons. This is due to lower yields per hectare in Central Europe and some Balkan countries due to the summer drought. Serbia and Romania are particularly affected by the heat wave in 2024, where yields per hectare are expected to be 50% lower than last year.

“Increased soybean acreage in Europe and a good harvest in Ukraine could offset losses caused by extreme weather in the EU and parts of Southeast Europe. Europe will have an unprecedented soybean harvest of more than 13 million tons,” said Susanne Fromwald, general secretary of Donau Soja.

Soybean harvest in Germany and Austria 2024

Due to heavy rains in September in Austria, the harvest is 11% lower at 240,000 tons as entire fields were washed away. However, yields per hectare are in line with the average and bean quality remains high. In Germany, planted area was down 10% but yields were down just 3.1% to 125,000 tons due to high yields per hectare.

“We see great potential to increase soybean acreage in Germany, also thanks to new varieties that can be grown in more northern regions,” says Fromwald.

Ukraine is the largest soybean producer in Europe

Ukraine remains Europe’s largest soybean producer. The area planted this year amounted to 2.6 million hectares, almost 44% more than in 2023.

Experts estimate that the harvest will exceed six million tons. About ten percent of this volume will be certified according to Donau Soja standards.

“The EU is only eight percent self-sufficient in soybeans. Non-GMO certified Donau Soja soybeans from Ukraine help fill the large protein crop deficit in Europe. Certified soybeans in Ukraine are produced to the same strict standards, so they are not a ‘threatening cheap alternative’ for farmers in the EU,” the company’s analysts wrote.

In total, about 1 million tons of the more than 13 million tons of soybeans produced in Europe in 2024 were certified according to Donau Soja standards, meaning they were non-GMO, not derived from deforestation, pesticide-free, and their cultivation techniques complied with international labor standards.

World soybean production MY 2024/25

World soybean production in 2024/2025 marketing year will be 425 million tons. The EU imports about 35 million tons annually. Most of these imports are genetically modified soybeans from abroad, which are used as animal feed.

Tags: soybean, crop forecast, Ukraine, EU