The cultivation of sugar beet in Europe has also decreased this year. Of the 3 large sugar producers in the European Union, 2 are again making significant losses. This is the result of a previously deployed strategy to reduce production capacity.
The European Commission estimates that the beet area amounts to 1,51 million hectares for the EU-27 plus the United Kingdom. This is a decrease of 2% with the 2019 harvest year. Good for 31.000 hectares fewer sugar beets.
Result of closed factories
France, Germany and Poland are the three heavyweights in the Union when it comes to sugar beet. In the former country, cultivation is shrinking by 3% to 8 hectares. A difference of almost 362.500 hectares compared to last year. This is not so strange. For example, Südzucker has closed 32.000 factories in the country and Cristal Union also closed the doors of 2 branches for the coming harvest year.
In Germany, Südzucker has also closed 2 factories, in the west and east of the country. Together with a branch in Poland, the cooperative is closing a total of 5 factories in Europe. The German acreage will shrink by almost 7% this year. A loss of 26.000 hectares of beets. Poland is the only climber in the list. Cultivation has increased by 4,6% (11.100 hectares).
Big climbers
In percentage terms, Austria is the biggest riser. The area increased by a quarter, although the area of 34.300 hectares is relatively small. It is also striking that 14% more beets are grown in Denmark. This area is comparable in size at 33.300 hectares. With 83.500 hectares (+3,4%), the Netherlands is number 5 on the rankings, when the 92.000 hectares of the United Kingdom are included. Here beet cultivation increased by the same percentage.
Sugar beets have had a difficult time this spring almost throughout Europe. Drought in particular played a spoilsport on the turnout. However, the beets were catching up and are in good shape at the beginning of August. It is once again clear what consequences the lack of the neonicotinoid seed coating entails.
Higher Yields
The MARS bulletin at the end of July estimates the average European yield to be 1,8% higher than the 5-year average. 75,9 tons per hectare versus 74,5 tons on average. The Dutch yield is estimated to be 4,2% higher compared to the average. The question is whether this is correct. Cosun Beet Company recently had the delivery obligation due to disappointing returns. In Germany, rain fell in time for crops to recover. Here the yield is estimated to be 3,4% higher. For France, a plus of 1,7% is taken into account. Poland records a minus of 3%.
The better yield is compensated by the decreasing area, so that the sugar supply of the European Union remains approximately the same and the market is expected to hardly responds.