EU-27: Sugar Beet Production Expected To Fall Due To Hot And Dry Weather

Analysts predict that sugar beet production in the EU-27 plus the UK will fall to 110 million tonnes in 2022/23, down 2.7% from previous estimates, with an estimated range of 103.4-116.6 million tonnes.

The sugar beet crop has been under pressure due to persistent drought and hot temperatures over the past two weeks, analysts said. Temperatures in Western Europe and the UK are 1-5°C above average, while temperatures in the east are near normal or 1-2°C below average. Much of the weather has been dry, with rainfall totals 5-50mm below normal over the past two weeks. There was little or no rainfall in Western Europe and localized rainfall in Central and Eastern Europe, slightly improving soil moisture.

The weather forecast shows that Western Europe will remain very hot for many days in the next few days, and cooler weather may continue in parts of the east and north.

The upcoming weather conditions will be favorable for crops in the east but not in the west, including France and the Iberian Peninsula.