The organic market in Europe in 2018 grew by almost 8%, according to the FiBL Organic Agriculture Research Institute and the Agricultural Market Information Society (AMI).
The following are data from a report by Alfons Deter (www.topagrar.com).
In 2018, 15,6 million ha were organically cultivated in Europe (European Union: 13,8 million ha). Spain with its 2,2 million hectares is still the country with the largest organic territory in Europe, followed by France (2,0 million hectares) and Italy (2,0 million hectares).
Organic area increased by 1,25 million hectares in Europe and by 1 million hectares in the European Union, which is 8,7% and 7,6%, respectively.
In 2018, more than 290 organic zones in France and over 000 hectares in Spain were added.
Organic land accounts for 3,1% of all agricultural land in Europe and 7,7% in the European Union.
In Europe (and worldwide), Liechtenstein has the highest share of organic agricultural land at 38,5%, followed by Austria, the country in the European Union with the highest share of organic land (24,7%).
Ten European countries indicated that at least 10% of their agricultural land is organic.
Nearly 420 organic producers
In Europe in 2018, there were nearly 420 producers of organic products, and in the European Union more than 000.
Turkey is the country with the largest number of companies (almost 80).
The number of organic producers in Europe grew by 5,4% in 2018 (7,2% in the EU).
In Europe, there are nearly 76 organic processors and nearly 000 in the European Union.
There were 5800 importers in Europe and almost 5000 in the European Union.
Italy (over 20) became the country with the largest number of exporters, while Germany had the largest number of importing companies (over 000).
Retail sales in Europe reached 40,7 billion euros (37,4 billion euros in the EU).
The EU is the second largest market for organic products after the United States (40,6 billion euros).
The European country with the largest organic market is Germany (€ 10,9 billion).
Sustainable Retail Growth
The European market grew by 7,8% in 2018.
Among the key markets, the largest growth was recorded in France (15,4%). Over the decade 2009-2018, retail sales in Europe and the European Union more than doubled.
In Europe, consumers spent 50 euros per person buying organic food in 2018 (European Union: 76 euros).
Per capita consumer spending on organic food has doubled between 2009 and 2018. In 2018, the Danes and Swiss spent the most on organic food (312 euros per person).
In European countries, organic sales account for a significant share of the total market, while Denmark has the highest share of organic consumption in the world at 11,5%.
Individual products and product groups have even higher proportions. For example, organic eggs account for 30% of all eggs sold in several countries.