France, the European Union's largest producer of sugar beet and sugar, could see its sugar beet harvest decline by 30% in 2026. According to the latest forecast from Agreste, the statistical service of the French Ministry of Agriculture, production is expected to reach 25.3 million tonnes, down 10.6 million tonnes from the previous year. If confirmed, this would be the country's lowest harvest since at least 1980.
The main causes are prolonged summer heat and water shortages, which have weakened crop development and reduced yields. Unfavourable weather conditions have also encouraged the spread of weevils and beet moths. Pest-damaged plants have become more vulnerable to Rhizopus, a fungal disease that causes root rot and can make sugar beet unsuitable for processing.
According to estimates from the French sugar industry, nearly 20,000 hectares of sugar beet fields may remain unharvested due to severe crop damage. France's total sugar beet area is approximately 372,000 hectares, while average yields are estimated at 67.8 tonnes per hectare, around 25% below the previous season. The final extent of the losses will only become clear once harvesting is completed, as crop conditions in some fields continue to deteriorate.
Lower production in France could reduce sugar supplies across the European market and affect the operations of sugar processing plants. For Ukraine, which also exports sugar to European countries, this situation may create additional sales opportunities. However, higher prices are not guaranteed, as market developments will depend on harvests elsewhere in the EU, global supply, trade conditions and actual sugar production volumes.
Original source: Agreste — Statistical Service of the French Ministry of Agriculture, forecast published October 13, 2026, updated October 16.