Sugar beet acreage increased by 5% in the EU and the UK

The increased moisture level in Western Europe has led to delays in the sowing of sugar beet in the EU countries, and may also negatively affect the yield of this crop this year.

This is reported by DGs AGRI.

Wet weather contributed to the development of aphids and other pests that cause the development of diseases on sugar beet in some areas, while drier weather prevented the development of diseases in other areas. In particular, in Denmark and Sweden, according to Nordic Sugar, warm and dry weather contributed to a decrease in the level of sugar beet pests.

This year, the yield should reach the 5-year average. In the EU and the UK, sugar beet acreage is estimated to increase by 5% compared to last year, due to an increase in acreage primarily in Germany (+6.5%) and France (+4.6%), which will theoretically allow to produce more sugar in the new season of 2024/25 MY. However, it is still too early to talk about the expected sugar production in the new 2024/25 season, which will mainly depend on weather conditions and further development of sugar beet.

Tags: UK, EU