Sugar Beet Harvest Looks Promising – Slovakia Expected to Remain Self-Sufficient in Sugar

This year’s sugar beet harvest is shaping up very well, according to both growers and sugar factories, which have already launched the sugar processing campaign.

The current situation in sugar beet cultivation, along with market outlooks, was the focus of Sugar Beet Day 2025, held on September 10 at the University Agricultural Enterprise of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA) in Oponice. The event was organized by Považský cukor, with the aim of bringing agricultural practice closer to SUA students.

Yields Expected to Be Very Good

“This year’s sugar beet yields look very promising. We expect around 65–66 tons per hectare, which is about five to seven percent more than in the previous two years,” said Róbert Kovács, Chairman of the Slovak Sugar Beet Growers’ Association.

Favorable weather conditions and reduced pest and disease pressure contributed to this ňyear’s results. Abundant rainfall, a cold May, and wide differences between day and night temperatures positively influenced the crop. Cicadas—carriers of the dangerous stolbur phytoplasma disease (low sugar content syndrome)—were nearly absent this year. The disease causes rot, blackening, and processing difficulties, with the main issue being its transmission by insects rather than direct feeding damage.

Cultivated Area Decreased

The sown area of sugar beet fell to 19,180 hectares this year, representing an 18% decline compared to 2024. The drop was caused by falling sugar prices, which directly affect the purchase price of sugar beet.

“After excellent prices above €40 per ton in the last two years, the expansion of beet areas in the EU and imports from Ukraine caused a sharp price decline. Now we fear we may not even reach €30 per ton—almost at the edge of production costs,” explained Kovács.

Future prospects will depend on how this season turns out. Imports from Ukraine are now being regulated, with the EU proposing a new quota of 100,000 tons of sugar imports—higher than the pre-war quota of 20,000 tons but significantly lower than the 500,000 tons imported in 2023 without limits.

At the SUA University Farm in Oponice, sugar beet is currently grown on 35 hectares—about half of the area compared to previous years. Thanks to irrigation, the conditions are highly favorable.

“We started with sugar beet based on experimental trials. Our goal is to create so-called living labs, presenting new cultivation technologies and advancing beet farming. We are testing different varieties, analyzing the effects of crop protection products, and striving for the highest yields and best quality. Using modern agricultural machinery, we also link student education with practice and the processing industry,” said Pavol Findura, farm manager.

Sugar Production to Cover Domestic Needs

Sugar factories expect that the high yields and sugar content will offset the reduced acreage. “We anticipate production of 165,000–170,000 tons of sugar from this campaign, which should nearly ensure Slovakia’s self-sufficiency,” said Michal Abelovič, Chairman of Považský cukor. Wholesale sugar prices are currently favorable, having risen by about €100 per ton year-on-year, reaching around €600. However, consumer prices may still rise, depending on global and regional market factors. The shelves of Slovak retail chains carry sugar from various countries, not just from Slovakia. That makes it difficult to predict how final prices will develop,” noted Abelovič.

Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of preparing for the new EU programming period starting in 2028: “We expect the Ministry of Agriculture to maintain support mechanisms for sugar beet, helping the sector to weather crises,” Abelovič concluded.

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