FIRST ESTIMATE OF AREAS OF SOME IMPORTANT CROPS, 2026

Increased sowing of rapeseed

It is estimated that the area sown with rapeseed in 2026 increased by 7 thousand hectares, that is, by 36.8% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, it is estimated that the area sown with sunflowers also increased, by 19.4%, as well as the area sown with sugar beets, by 7.1%, and wheat, by 3.2%.

Decreased sowing of soya beans

It is estimated that the area sown with soya beans decreased by 4 thousand hectares, that is, by 4.9%, and the area sown with maize, by 0.8%, compared to the previous year.

Areas sown with potatoes remained at last year’s level.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

The Croatian Bureau of Statistics conducted the surveys on crop statistics on the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, Nos 25/20, 155/23 and 124/25 – corr.), Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on statistics on agricultural input and output, amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 617/2008 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1165/2008, (EC) No 543/2009 and (EC) No 1185/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 96/16/EC, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1538 of 25 July 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards crop production statistics.

Sources and methods of data collection

Data on the first estimates of areas sown with important crops refer to the situation as on 1 June. These data are the first information issued by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics on the situation of areas sown at the end of spring harvest. The following crops are included: wheat, maize, soya beans, rapeseed, sunflowers, sugar beets and potatoes.

Data on areas sown with important crops have been estimated by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics based on the following:

-  results of the Annual survey on crop and animal production (PO-71 form)

-  available administrative sources of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, databases and registers from the Paying Agency for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Single Application and other relevant sources.

Coverage and comparability

Reporting units are business entities and parts thereof defined in section A Agriculture, forestry and fishing according to the NKD 2025 as well as other business entities and parts thereof engaged in agricultural production but classified elsewhere. The coverage is selective. Data are collected by means of reports mailed to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

Reporting units are also private family farms engaged in agricultural production, for which interviewers collect data.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Predrag Cvjetićanin and Željko Kanižaj

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