Bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

The market for bran and cereal processing residues in Southern Europe opened the period at a high volume of 7 780 thousand tons in 2018, supported by existing practices in Portugal that emphasized the valorization of milling by-products for soil incorporation, animal bedding, or energy generation. However, the market contracted sharply to 5 452 thousand tons in 2019.

A turnaround began in 2020, with the market edging up to 5 510 thousand tons, coinciding with the launch of EU funding programs aimed at innovating agro-industrial waste management, including cereal bran. This recovery accelerated in 2021, with volume jumping to 7 100 thousand tons, driven by stricter European food and feed safety regulations that bolstered demand for certified processing by-products.

Following the 2021 peak, market volume fell back to 5 166 thousand tons in 2022. In 2023, it stabilized around 5 039 thousand tons, a decline linked primarily to adverse weather across Europe—particularly drought in Spain and excessive rains in the north—which significantly reduced cereal harvests and constrained the supply of raw materials for milling.

Production bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing, 2017-2020

World map of production of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing, 2017-2020

In Southern Europe, production of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing reached 5,593 thousand tonnes in 2020, marking a 2.7% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 3.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%. The highest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 7,747 thousand tonnes, which represented a significant 43.9% increase from the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest decline, with production falling by 29.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Market performance showed notable fluctuations during this period. In 2020, the output of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing in Southern Europe was valued at 1,183 million US dollars, reflecting a substantial 13.0% rise compared to 2019. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 1,706 million US dollars, which was a 73.8% increase from the prior year. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, with a 1.7-fold difference between the minimum and maximum values. The most significant decline took place in 2019, when the value dropped by 38.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Exports of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing from Southern Europe increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 517.6 thousand tonnes, a 14.5% rise from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 18.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.9%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 393.7 thousand tonnes, representing a 9.6% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with exports rising by 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Tunisia, and Germany were the largest buyers of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing from Southern Europe, accounting for 29.6%, 12.0%, and 2.6% of exports in kind, respectively. However, their combined share was limited to 44.2% of total exports in kind, indicating a diversified country structure with many other markets contributing significantly.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Exports of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing from Southern Europe increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, totaling 109.5 million US dollars, a 26.0% rise from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 37.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing from Southern Europe were supplied to a wide range of markets. Even the largest destinations—Turkey, Tunisia, and Germany—together represented only 40.3% of total exports in value terms, highlighting the product's broad market diversification.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020

Imports bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, imports of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing into Southern Europe declined in 2020, reaching 434.9 thousand tonnes, a 5.6% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 6.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 460.7 thousand tonnes, which marked an 8.0% increase from the prior year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Analysis of imports in kind from 2017 to 2020 reveals a broad distribution across many markets. France, Côte d'Ivoire, and Austria accounted for 18.6%, 8.0%, and 7.0% of imports in kind, respectively, but together they represented only 33.6% of total flows. The remaining 66.4% came from a diverse range of other partners.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Europe in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following two years of gains, imports of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing into Southern Europe declined in 2020, totaling 103.3 million US dollars, a moderate 5.5% decrease year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 12.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.0%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 109.3 million US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018, with imports rising by 15.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, France, Côte d'Ivoire, and Austria were among the largest suppliers of bran, sharps and residues from cereal or legume processing to Southern Europe, accounting for 20.6%, 6.4%, and 4.9% of imports in value terms, respectively. However, their combined share was just 31.9% of total imports in value terms, underscoring a broadly diversified partner base with many other countries involved.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Europe in value, 2017-2020