French sugar beet production to reach 36 million tonnes, say growers

The French sugar beet harvest is expected to increase from 32.8 millions metric tons last season to 36 million metric tonnes in 2025/26, as improved yields offset a reduction in the area planted, according Wednesday's statement by growers group CGB.

CGB stated in a presentation that the forecast for the 2025/26 crop is based on 91 tons of yield per hectare compared to 80 tons in 2024/25.

The CGB's managing Director, Nicolas Rialland told reporters that favourable conditions for planting and timely rains would support yields, but damage from the beetyellows virus, which has affected some regions, will prevent the national harvest reaching a new record.

The CGB's forecast for the crop was much higher than that of the French Ministry of Agriculture, who last month estimated the crop to be 33.7 million tonnes, citing mixed results linked to the effect of beetyellows.

CGB stated that the sugar beet harvest would produce around 4.3 millions tons of sugar by 2025/26 compared to about 4 million in 2024/25.

The group projected that the crop could support production of approximately 8.7 million hectolitres (up from 7.6 millions hectolitres) of alcohol and fuel ethanol, a significant increase over the previous season.

(source: Reuters)