BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 29. The agricultural land market in the European Union continues to show significant regional disparities, with the Balkan countries standing out for their relatively low land prices compared to other regions in Europe, Trend reports.
According to data from Eurostat, while Malta and the Netherlands record some of the highest prices, agricultural land in the Balkans remains more affordable, offering opportunities for local farmers and international investors alike.
Among the 22 EU countries with available data, Malta stands out with the highest average price for arable land, reaching a staggering €283,039 per hectare. In comparison, the Netherlands follows with €91,154 per hectare, and Luxembourg sits third with €42,540 per hectare. These prices reflect the limited availability of arable land in these countries, making it an expensive commodity.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Balkan countries offer some of the lowest land prices in the EU. Croatia, with an average price of just €4,491 per hectare, recorded the lowest prices in the region. Neighboring countries also follow suit, with Latvia (€4,591) and Slovakia (€5,189) presenting similarly low prices. These figures suggest that the Balkans remain an attractive region for those looking to invest in agricultural land at a lower cost compared to Western and Northern Europe.
Regional price variations within individual EU countries further emphasize the stark contrast in land values across Europe. While regions such as Wien in Austria (€189,000 per hectare) and Flevoland in the Netherlands (€178,093) show extremely high prices, the Swedish regions of Övre Norrland (€1,951) and Mellersta Norrland (€2,378), as well as the French region of Franche-Comté (€2,580), report some of the lowest prices for arable land.
In addition to the price of purchasing agricultural land, rental prices also reveal a similar trend. The Netherlands leads the EU in annual rental prices, with €914 per hectare for arable land or permanent grassland. In stark contrast, rental prices in the Balkans remain much lower, with Slovakia recording the lowest rental rates in the EU at just €67 per hectare.
Among the EU’s regions, the Dutch region of Flevoland has the highest average annual rental price, reaching €1,787 per hectare, followed by Canarias in Spain (€1,164) and Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands (€1,111). Meanwhile, the Swedish regions of Övre Norrland and Mellersta Norrland again offer the lowest rental prices in the EU, at just €24 per hectare. The Slovak regions of Stredné Slovensko (€40) and Východné Slovensko (€43) also present relatively low rental rates.
For the Balkan countries, these lower land prices could have long-term implications for both local agriculture and the region’s appeal to foreign investors. The more affordable land prices may help bolster the agricultural sector, but they also signal the need for further investment in infrastructure and land development to maximize the land’s potential.
As the EU agricultural market continues to evolve, the disparities between regions are likely to persist, with the Balkans remaining a region of interest for those seeking cost-effective agricultural investments. While countries like Croatia and Slovakia maintain competitive land prices, the need for modernization and strategic development will remain crucial in ensuring sustainable growth for the region’s agricultural sector.