Planted soybean area in EU hits record level of more than 2.47 million acres

According to current figures published by the EU Commission, the biggest increases in 2021 soybean production are recorded in Italy and Romania, two major soy-producing countries. The soybean area in Germany, however, has also risen strongly.

The soybean production area in the EU-27 for harvest in 2021 for the first time exceeds 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres), according to the EU Commission estimates. With an increase of 9.5 percent on the year and just about 12 percent on the long-term average, it has reached a new record level. In other words, the EU soybean area has tripled in 12 years.

Italy has taken the lead in this development with an estimated production area of 295,000 hectares (728,961 acres) and a strong increase of 15 percent over the previous year.

France ranks second with 196,000 hectares (484,327 acres) and a comparatively lower expansion of 5 percent.

Romania is also growing significantly more soybeans, having expanded the area 14 percent to 189,000 hectares (467,029 acres).

Germany ranks eighth in the EU comparison with 37,000 hectares (91,429 acres) of soybean area, but has also seen a strong expansion in area of 14 percent.