Flax, raw or retted production in France
In 2024 France produced 1.1 million t of flax, raw or retted, the largest total in the world (81.9% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 104%. This is the highest figure on record. Area harvested: 158,290 ha, yield 6.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 1.1 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 17
- 10-year change
- +104%
- Record
- 1.1 million t
- 2024
Flax, raw or retted in France, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
France compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 81.9%
- 67.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 6.7
- world 4.6 (+46%)
- kg per person
- 15.9
- world 0.16
- 10-year change
- +104%
- world +69%
Position in the world ranking
Map of world production of flax, raw or retted
Share of the world total; France is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,059,080 | +106% | 158,290 | 6.69 |
| 2023 | 515,340 | −21% | 131,160 | 3.93 |
| 2022 | 652,680 | −3.8% | 127,800 | 5.11 |
| 2021 | 678,390 | −8.9% | 112,580 | 6.03 |
| 2020 | 744,300 | −12% | 142,160 | 5.24 |
| 2019 | 850,350 | +29% | 121,670 | 6.99 |
| 2018 | 660,107 | +11% | 105,880 | 6.23 |
| 2017 | 596,787 | −0.9% | 98,218 | 6.08 |
| 2016 | 602,504 | +15% | 88,480 | 6.81 |
| 2015 | 525,623 | +1.1% | 78,866 | 6.66 |
| 2014 | 519,798 | +13% | 66,489 | 7.82 |
| 2013 | 460,858 | −2.1% | 60,651 | 7.60 |
| 2012 | 470,544 | +72% | 67,432 | 6.98 |
| 2011 | 273,483 | −27% | 60,869 | 4.49 |
| 2010 | 372,100 | −9.6% | 55,164 | 6.75 |
| 2009 | 411,438 | −24% | 56,653 | 7.26 |
| 2008 | 543,252 | +18% | 67,904 | 8.00 |
| 2007 | 461,968 | −14% | 76,200 | 6.06 |
| 2006 | 538,268 | −9.1% | 76,605 | 7.03 |
| 2005 | 592,357 | +8.6% | 78,644 | 7.53 |
| 2004 | 545,607 | +2.0% | 80,526 | 6.78 |
| 2003 | 535,084 | +9.4% | 76,528 | 6.99 |
| 2002 | 489,250 | +72% | 67,417 | 7.26 |
| 2001 | 284,593 | −23% | 67,849 | 4.19 |
| 2000 | 371,622 | +9.1% | 54,525 | 6.82 |
| 1999 | 340,507 | +19% | 50,041 | 6.80 |
| 1998 | 285,339 | −9.0% | 44,149 | 6.46 |
| 1997 | 313,557 | +10.0% | 45,067 | 6.96 |
| 1996 | 285,098 | −13% | 44,362 | 6.43 |
| 1995 | 327,964 | +5.6% | 54,246 | 6.05 |
| 1994 | 310,591 | +39% | 49,689 | 6.25 |
| 1993 | 223,034 | +18% | 36,695 | 6.08 |
| 1992 | 188,360 | −29% | 32,874 | 5.73 |
| 1991 | 267,171 | +247% | 39,449 | 6.77 |
| 1990 | 77,000 | +4.1% | 60,927 | 1.26 |
| 1989 | 74,000 | −19% | 59,000 | 1.25 |
| 1988 | 91,000 | +30% | 55,200 | 1.65 |
| 1987 | 70,000 | +7.7% | 51,300 | 1.36 |
| 1986 | 65,000 | −35% | 47,000 | 1.38 |
| 1985 | 100,000 | +15% | 58,900 | 1.70 |
| 1984 | 87,000 | +40% | 45,800 | 1.90 |
| 1983 | 62,000 | −1.4% | 40,800 | 1.52 |
| 1982 | 62,900 | +40% | 44,000 | 1.43 |
| 1981 | 45,000 | −34% | 44,000 | 1.02 |
| 1980 | 68,400 | −3.8% | 49,000 | 1.40 |
| 1979 | 71,100 | −0.3% | 50,438 | 1.41 |
| 1978 | 71,300 | −2.9% | 49,723 | 1.43 |
| 1977 | 73,400 | −2.1% | 57,195 | 1.28 |
| 1976 | 75,000 | +32% | 63,000 | 1.19 |
| 1975 | 57,000 | +24% | 48,000 | 1.19 |
| 1974 | 46,000 | +8.2% | 38,400 | 1.20 |
| 1973 | 42,497 | −8.2% | 33,100 | 1.28 |
| 1972 | 46,294 | −7.6% | 34,200 | 1.35 |
| 1971 | 50,124 | +24% | 41,500 | 1.21 |
| 1970 | 40,343 | −29% | 39,703 | 1.02 |
| 1969 | 56,726 | +11% | 42,276 | 1.34 |
| 1968 | 51,105 | −23% | 31,271 | 1.63 |
| 1967 | 66,473 | −0.0% | 55,576 | 1.20 |
| 1966 | 66,477 | +12% | 62,085 | 1.07 |
| 1965 | 59,352 | −31% | 60,277 | 0.98 |
| 1964 | 86,250 | +20% | 79,099 | 1.09 |
| 1963 | 71,690 | +23% | 73,903 | 0.97 |
| 1962 | 58,520 | +5.4% | 60,351 | 0.97 |
| 1961 | 55,520 | — | 52,000 | 1.07 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 8,183 t USD 7.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 1 of 16
- Imports
- 1,123 t USD 877,000
- Importer rank
- 3 of 24
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of flax, raw or retted in France?
France produced 1.1 million t in 2024, 81.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does France rank in the world for production of flax, raw or retted?
France was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of Belgium.
How has the production of flax, raw or retted in France changed?
It rose by 104% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +69% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
What is the yield of flax, raw or retted in France?
6.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1.1 million t from 158,290 ha), against a world average of 4.6 t/ha.
Does France export or import flax, raw or retted?
In 2024 France reported exports of 8,183 t (USD 7.0 m) and imports of 1,123 t (USD 877,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.