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The data presented here are based on market surveys conducted by the "European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)" between November 2001 and May 2002. In the European Union (EU), presently about 15 to 20 companies are engaged in the primary processing of hemp, in addition to 5 to 10 such companies in Eastern Europe. While the traditional processing line, including water retting and long fibre separation, which allows production of spinnable fibre, prevails in Eastern Europe, in the EU solely field retting and whole fibre processing are practised.
The seven leading primary hemp processors in Europe, most of them EIHA members, provided the data for the following survey on cultivation,production and product lines. These companies are Hemcore (UK), HempFlax (The Netherlands), Hempron (The Netherlands), LCDA (France), AGRO-Dienst (Germany), BaFa (Germany) and Vernaro (Germany); together, they represent a market share of 72 to 90% in terms of fibre produced in the EU (see below) and constitute a representative basis for market information.
Cultivation and demand In 2001 the seven companies had a total contract area of about 10,120 ha under hemp cultivation. However, this area was insufficient to meet the demand for industrial hemp fibres.
The balance was supplied by the processing of hemp stalks and pre-decorticated fibres from previous years, which had been stockpiled due to insufficient demand. All seven companies started the year 2002 with largely or completely depleted fibre stocks.
The exceedance of supply from present-year cultivation by demand represents a new situation to for the industry. It is due to the increasing establishment of hemp as an industrial fibre and the simultaneously decreasing EU subsidies.
In 2002 the seven companies intend to considerably increase their combined contract area to more than 14,000 ha (+40 %). While the demand for these amounts exists, it is questionable whether enough farmers can be found to grow hemp under the current (and future) economic conditions.
The average yield of dry hemp stalks on land contracted by the seven companies in 2001 was 6.2 t/ha.
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For more information, contact:
Michael Karus, Coordinator of the "European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)" and managing director of nova-Institute (Germany)
URL: www.eiha.org
URL: www.nova-institut.de
Copyright © 2002, nova-Institute. All rights reserved.
The seven leading primary hemp processors in Europe, most of them EIHA members, provided the data for the following survey on cultivation,production and product lines. These companies are Hemcore (UK), HempFlax (The Netherlands), Hempron (The Netherlands), LCDA (France), AGRO-Dienst (Germany), BaFa (Germany) and Vernaro (Germany); together, they represent a market share of 72 to 90% in terms of fibre produced in the EU (see below) and constitute a representative basis for market information.
Cultivation and demand In 2001 the seven companies had a total contract area of about 10,120 ha under hemp cultivation. However, this area was insufficient to meet the demand for industrial hemp fibres.
The balance was supplied by the processing of hemp stalks and pre-decorticated fibres from previous years, which had been stockpiled due to insufficient demand. All seven companies started the year 2002 with largely or completely depleted fibre stocks.
The exceedance of supply from present-year cultivation by demand represents a new situation to for the industry. It is due to the increasing establishment of hemp as an industrial fibre and the simultaneously decreasing EU subsidies.
In 2002 the seven companies intend to considerably increase their combined contract area to more than 14,000 ha (+40 %). While the demand for these amounts exists, it is questionable whether enough farmers can be found to grow hemp under the current (and future) economic conditions.
The average yield of dry hemp stalks on land contracted by the seven companies in 2001 was 6.2 t/ha.
--------------------
For more information, contact:
Michael Karus, Coordinator of the "European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)" and managing director of nova-Institute (Germany)
URL: www.eiha.org
URL: www.nova-institut.de
Copyright © 2002, nova-Institute. All rights reserved.
