Balkan agricultural land prices remain low amid hikes across EU

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.