Belgian beet processor Tiense Suikerraffinaderij has announced it will reduce its contract sugar beet cultivation area by approximately 25% for the 2026 growing season. This is in addition to a previous reduction of approximately 15% implemented this season.
Tiense Suiker's decision follows the announcement by the Dutch beet cooperative Cosun to increase the allocation for 2026 to reduce by 10% to 90%Both beet processors feel compelled to intervene after the sugar price has fallen sharply. "The market is completely out of balance, the sugar price is at an all-time low," quotes the Belgian company Vilt from a message from Tiense Suiker to growers.
The smaller Belgian beet processor Iscal Sugar is hesitant to force beet growers to cut back on their production. The manufacturer is, however, strongly advising growers to sow fewer beets next year. The sugar producer hopes this incentive will be enough to reduce beet production by another 5% next year.
Much more beets with less area
This year, the beet acreage in Belgium will remain just under 52.000 hectares. This means 11% less has been sown than last year. However, this hasn't contributed to the lower beet harvest. Yields are so high that production will increase by 11% to over 4,9 million tons. The statistics agency StatBel estimates the average yield this year at 94,6 tons per hectare. That's almost 20 tons per hectare more than the disappointing 2024 harvest.
According to Eurostat figures, the total beet acreage in the European Union has decreased by 10,6% this year to 1,45 million hectares. France is the largest producer in hectares this year, with 397.000 hectares. The French are growing 3,4% fewer beets than in 2024. Germany has lost 11,5% of its beets, bringing its total to 387.000 hectares this year. This means that Germany has relinquished the leading position it held in the European Union for the past two years to France.
In the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia, the beet acreage has shrunk by 20% or more this year. However, the biggest blow has been to the Austrian beet acreage, down 42% to 25.000 hectares. This decline is largely due to the closure of a sugar factory by the Austrian company Agrana. Austria now has only one sugar factory. Agrana CEO Stephan Büttner recently stated that he cannot guarantee that the last factory in Tulln will remain open.