Hungary: lavender cultivation shrinks despite rising demand from the Food Industry

## The area under cultivation   is steadily declining

In 2025  lavender was cultivated on just 170 hectares in Hungary - a trend attributable to a steady decline in cultivated areas in recent years. The country’s largest and most significant growing regions span the four counties of Pest, Somogy, Tolna, and Veszprém.

The main reason for cultivation remains the  dried flowers (referred to in technical terminology as the “herb”). And  the production of high-quality essential oil.

The production of domestic lavender requires precise timing. Experts from NAK and the Medicinal Plant Association note that the flowering period in Hungary typically falls in the months of June and July. The optimal harvest window is very short. Growers often only have a single week to harvest the plants at the perfect stage of maturity. Immediately after cutting, the next step is determined. The flowers are either gently dried or sent directly to distillation for oil extraction.

In Hungary, the most commonly cultivated variety is French lavender (lavandula dentata). It is  winter-hardy, highly aromatic, and rich in essential oils.

Although lavender  oil  is not the most widely essential oil  in Hungary, lavender remains the primary raw material processed by small-scale distilleries.

Approximately eight to ten kilograms of fresh flowers are needed to produce one kilogram of dried lavender flowers.

When producing dried lavender, the freshly harvested flowers must be dried immediately. Once dried, the  cleaning machines separate the floral material from the stems. For essential oil production, the harvested flowers must be distilled immediately after collection using steam distillation.

“In recent years, lavender hydrosol, or lavender water, has become an increasingly popular ingredient in both the cosmetics and food industries”, - experts said.

It is produced during the distillation of lavender oil, when steam passes through the plant material and extracts its aromatic compounds. Compared with essential oil, lavender water is a less concentrated  product that contains small amounts of the plant’s water-soluble active ingredients and fragrance compounds.  But it offers a range of properties similar to those of essential oil.

Lavender is also being used more widely as a food ingredient, appearing in sweets, syrups, and as a decorative garnish for dishes. However,  there are currently no specific regulations governing the use of lavender as a food ingredient in Huhgary, and these products are not subject to the standards set out in pharmaceutical pharmacopoeias.

The emblem of Provence  isn't as profitable as before

In France lavender has become a burden for many farmers who are operating at a loss and choose to diversify to survive.

Provence  Instagram-worthy landscapes are threatened, as some of them are no longer as profitable.

Farmers in the area confirm that lavender has become a delicate crop, vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, which is less and less profitable.

"There was an oversupply at one point, so prices dropped significantly, and unpredictable weather means we’re getting lower yields," says Ludovic Chaillan, farmer in Roumoules. "We’re looking for a more stable form of diversification to ensure a steady income."

Farmers are starting to shift their production to pistachio, pomegranate or almond trees, whilst others are turning to a booming sector: laying hens.

Chickens  VS Lavender

The lavender and fennel farmer will soon be raising 25,000 laying hens in his fields, providing him with an expected income of €2,500 every month.

These projects have been made possible by a national Agricultural Emergency Act approved by the French Parliament. This act facilitates installing chicken coops in the Provence region as well as lifting administrative barriers for farmers and towns.

An initiative boosted by rising egg consumption. In France, 237 eggs are eaten every year per person.

The National Committee for the Promotion of the Egg in France estimates that 300 more poultry houses will be needed by 2030 to achieve self-sufficiency.

New leader

France  cultivated over 25,000 hectares of lavender, yielding 1,200 metric tons of oil. Lavandin, a high-yield hybrid species, makes up over 55% of total production.

In 2012, Bulgaria became the world's leading producer and exporter of lavender oil, overtaking the previous leader, France.

In 2023, over 6,500 metric tons of lavender oil were produced globally, with Bulgaria, France, and China contributing more than 70% of the supply.

The global lavender oil market, valued at USD 410.0 million in 2025, is set to expand at a  Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)  of 5.2% to reach USD 716.1 million by 2036.