Sorghum Continues Growing Worldwide

Which countries have been the most important sorghum producers in the world, this year? Where have sorghum areas go up and where have they gone down? The answers – below:

In 2024, the world production of sorghum has neared 61.3 million tons, up 4.3 percent from 2023 (58.8 million tons). At 28.3 million tons, Africa remains the top producer of sorghum. Among the main African sorghum producers are Nigeria (7 million tons), Sudan (5.3 million tons), and Ethiopia (4.1 million tons). While the US remains the top second producer, its crop has gone down from 8.1 to 7.1 million tons, as a result of difficult weather conditions (excessive heat and water deficits). India’s production, too, is down: 4.4 million tons in 2023, as against an estimated 4.2 million in 2024. Sorghum production remains relatively stable in Russia, China, and Australia, as against Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, where it has gone up from 4.3 million tons to 4.5 million tons, from 5 million tons to 5.2 million tons, and from 2.6 million tons to 3 million tons, respectively. An increase is also expected in Europe, where harvested amounts should go from 0.8 to 1 million tons.

Global figures (source : IGC Grain Market Report, August 2024)

• 2021/22: 61,4 million t
• 2022/23: 57,7 million t
• 2023/24: 58,8 million t
• 2024/25: 61,3 million t (estimate)

Food Use Driving the Market

The demand for sorghum on the food market has increased by 5.9 percent, reaching 30 million tons in 2024. The increase is mainly due to the rise of the Sudanese production, which focuses on food use. Feed use is estimated to remain stable, at 24.5 million tons, mostly on account of a decline in China’s demand as well as in the US production. As to the industrial use, there is an estimated increase of 2.4 percent to 4.5 million tons.

Europe’s Grain Sorghum Area at Nearly 250 000 Hectares

With a 34-percent increase in its grain sorghum area over the span of one year, Europe is a “good student”. In the EU-27, France ranks the first, with 103 000 hectares – up almost 89 percent in one year. France is followed by Hungary (44 940 hectares), Italy (40 580 hectares), and Romania (16 000 hectares) – where recurrent droughts have been a real problem for its spring crops, making sorghum an opportune alternative in the farmers’ rotations.

Source : Sorghum ID, 2024

Feed Sorghum Area up 11 Percent, in Europe

At 98 000 hectares, feed sorghum area in the EU-27 marks an 11-percent increase, mainly due to France (up 17 percent to 35 000 hectares), Italy (up 20 percent to 30 000 hectares), and Poland (up 5 percent to 5000 hectares). Outside the EU-27, feed sorghum area is up by a sharp 40 percent in Russia, reaching almost 170 000 hectares.

Sorghum Seed Production up, in Europe

A total of 2600 hectares have been allocated to sorghum seed in 2024, which has been the largest multiplication area ever recorded in Europe. This historical level indicates the growing importance of sorghum in crop rotations. The ensuing productions will help rebuild stocks – which had gone down as a result of the massive increase in sorghum plantings in 2024. Seed sorghum area stood at only 675 hectares in 2018/19 and 1950 hectares in 2023 (up 34 percent). The main producing countries include Hungary (1050 hectares), France (1006 hectares), and Spain (400 hectares).