European Organic Market Hits New Record
Europe's organic market reached a new record in 2024, with organic farmland remaining stable at 19.6 million hectares amid rising consumer demand. In line with this growth, the EU has opened applications for its fifth annual EU Organic Awards to promote excellence in the sector.
- European organic retail sales hit €58.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 4.1%. Germany remains the largest market at €17.0 billion, followed by France (€12.2 billion) and Italy (€5.2 billion). - Switzerland recorded the highest per capita spending on organic food worldwide at €481 and the largest market share, with organic products representing 12.3% of total food sales. - In 2024, the EU imported approximately 2.64 million metric tons of organic agri-food products. The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium were the largest importers by volume. - Demand for organic rice is projected to grow significantly, with some analyses forecasting 12% annual growth for the segment. Exporters must comply with the EU's Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labeling to enter the market. - Pakistan and India are the primary competitors for the EU organic rice market; in 2021, Pakistan held a 42.8% share of organic rice imports, India held 30.5%, and Thailand held 9.6%. - Over 70% of European consumers indicate a willingness to pay a premium for organic products, with organic fruits and vegetables being the largest sales category. - The EU Organic Awards include categories for "Best organic food processing SME" and "Best organic food retailer," open to any EU-based entity in the organic value chain. Applications for the 2025 awards close on April 27, 2025.
