Germany’s refined sugar production from sugar beets is expected to drop by 4.9% in the 2025-26 season, with an estimated 4.40 million metric tonnes to be produced, down from 4.63 million metric tonnes in the previous season. The forecast was released by Germany’s sugar industry association, WVZ, in its first harvest outlook on Monday.
The primary factor behind the decline is a reduction in sugar beet acreage by German farmers.
Analysts had expected a reduced EU sugar beet sown area as farmers turned away from the crop following a sugar price slump driven by large supplies, reported Reuters.
German farmers have cut beet plantings by approximately 9.3% year-on-year, bringing the total area to around 350,100 hectares. WVZ also forecasts a slight decrease in crop yields, with an expected 82.6 tonnes per hectare, down from 84.7 tonnes last season.
Despite the reduction in yields and area planted, the association expects an increase in the average sugar content of beets, which could rise to 17.2%, compared to 16.3% last year.
Sugar beet harvesting in Germany will continue into the winter months, and farmers remain concerned about the potential impact of crop diseases, particularly SBR (low sugar content syndrome) and RTD (rubbery taproot disease). Both diseases, which are spread by the reed leafhopper, present significant challenges for sugar beet growers and the industry. These concerns may have further discouraged farmers from planting sugar beets, WVZ added.
