Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
The EU predicts that sugar production will slowly decline in the Commonwealth by 2035 due to decreasing sugar beet yields and area. Sugar consumption is expected to gradually decline due to consumers switching to lower sugar diets, especially due to the reduction of high sugar content in food products.
“Although the EU is projected to be a net importer of sugar for most years, its dependence on imports is likely to decrease,” the European Commission said.
After a record sugar price increase in 2023, EU sugar beet area reached a 6-year high in 2024/25 – more than 1.6 million hectares.
With lower sugar prices, the EU forecasts a slow decline in the area planted to sweet roots to 1.44 million ha by 2035.
The EU expects sugar beet yields to slowly decline due to negative weather events and reduced availability of crop protection products. By 2035, average sugar beet yields in the EU are projected to stabilize at 72 tons/hectare.
“As a result of area and yield changes, EU sugar production is projected to remain relatively stable, declining from an average of 15.4 million tons in 2022-2024 to 15.3 million tons in 2035,” the EU adds.
EU isoglucose production is also expected to change marginally by 0.5 million tons throughout the forecast period.
The European Commission also forecasts a 0.2% annual decrease in EU sugar consumption. It is planned to reach 15.3 million tons in 2035.
“Sugar imports are expected to decline slowly to 1 million tons by the end of the forecast period,” the EU specified.