Top Sugar Beet Producing Countries

Sugar beet, a major source of table sugar, is primarily cultivated in temperate regions, with the top producers being Russia, France, the United States, Germany, and Turkey. The history of sugar beet farming began in the late 18th century when German chemist Andreas Marggraf discovered that sugar could be extracted from beets, a breakthrough further developed by his student Franz Achard, who established the first beet sugar factory in Silesia (now Poland) in 1801. The Napoleonic Wars and Britain's blockade of sugarcane imports to continental Europe spurred the rapid expansion of beet sugar production, particularly in France and Germany. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, advances in plant breeding and agricultural techniques increased yields and sugar content, spreading sugar beet cultivation across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Today, these regions remain global leaders, with modern mechanized farming and processing technologies ensuring sugar beet's continued importance in the world sugar market.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat