France sugar beet sown area will decrease by almost 5%

Sugar beet cultivation in France is set to decline further this year, as farmers continue to move away from the crop due to weak sugar prices and industry challenges.

According to the farm ministry, the area under sugar beet for the 2026 harvest is estimated at 379,000 hectares. This marks a drop of 4.6% compared to 2025 and is also nearly 5% below the five-year average.

The decline reflects a broader trend seen across Europe, where growers have been reducing sugar beet planting in recent years. A prolonged slump in sugar prices has made the crop less attractive, while several sugar processing factories have shut down, adding to uncertainty in the sector.

While favourable weather conditions supported stable planting of major cereals like wheat, the outlook for sugar beet remains under pressure due to market conditions rather than weather factors.

Farmers are increasingly shifting to alternative crops that offer better returns, contributing to the continued fall in sugar beet acreage.

Tags: France