Seed production in EU
The EU seed market, valued at $8.85 billion(1), represents 24 percent of the world market ranking slightly behind the U.S. ($12 billion). Primary EU seed production area in 2009 was soft wheat seeds (576,400 ha), followed by barley seeds (310,000 ha), grasses/forage seeds (345,000 ha), and corn seeds (155,900 ha). France, Hungary, Romania, Italy and Austria are the main producers (2).
Grains and corn : France and Romania are the largest EU soft wheat seed producers ; France, United Kingdom and Denmark the largest barley seed producers. Italy has the first place with durum wheat seed production. France is the largest EU corn seed producer and the First exporting country on the international marketplace.
Oilseeds : France and Germany are the largest EU rapeseed seed producers, France, Spain and Romania the largest sunflower seed producers.
Forage : Ryegrass and fescue dominate forage production respectively with 135 000 tons and 64 500 tons. In 2009, Denmark is the largest producer of forage seeds with 37 percent of the market, followed by Germany, France and Spain.
Sugarbeets : France and Italy each produce more than 36 percent of EU sugarbeet seeds which are grown in southern Europe for cultivation in northern Europe. For 2006, the production in Belgium increases each year. It reaches 3 310 tons in 2009 compared to 1 310 tons in 2005.
Potatoes and vegetables : The Netherlands dominate the EU and the international marketplace for the both commodities. They are the largest potatoe seed producer in UE (54% of the EU production) and the main exporting country in the world. France is the main competing country with 26 percent of the UE market. We don't have data for vegetable seeds production but The Netherlands is the first exporting country in the world with $1.025 billion and France has the third place just behind the USA with $720 million in 2009.
Thanks to the seed sector dynamism, the EU exports reach €3.7 Mrd, 66 percent in the EU market and 34 percent in the rest of the world. With €3.1 Mrd imported, the EU release a trade surplus of €612 million for 2009.
(1) Source : International Seed Federation (http://www.worldseed.org) August 2010
(2) Source : ESCAA - (http://www.escaa.org/) and GNIS (http://www.gnis.fr)
