As the imbalance between supply and demand has driven a 36% increase in fiber prices from June to November, the European Linen and Hemp Alliance anticipates a rise in acreage allocated to flax fiber for 2024, with Europe accounting for three-quarters of global production.

The coastal strip stretching from western France to the Netherlands, conducive to flax cultivation, had accumulated 150,000 hectares dedicated to this fiber in 2023. Projections and field reports indicate that in 2024, this area could expand to 160,000 hectares, approaching the record of 163,000 hectares achieved by the sector in 2020.

Behind this growth, the sector observes the emergence of winter flax, sown at the end of autumn rather than in spring and harvested approximately a month earlier than traditional flax. No less than 30,000 hectares are expected to be allocated to it this year, marking a threefold increase in one year and a sixfold increase in two years.

“This flax, sown at the end of autumn and harvested about a month before traditional spring flax, follows a longer cycle that can better withstand extreme weather events such as droughts, heavy rains, and storms, which have characterized recent springs,” noted the Alliance, which expressed concerns last July about the impact of climate change on the industry.

The projections from the organization anticipate a monthly production of “European Flax” certified flax not exceeding 10,000 tonnes in the first quarter, compared to an average of 12,000 to 16,000 (excluding July and August) over the past two years. The nature of the straw harvested in 2023 is expected to gradually reduce this figure to 8,000 tonnes per month by the end of the semester.

“On prices, supply tensions are expected to persist at least until the autumn of 2024 when the linseed straw from the upcoming harvest begins to be processed,” said the Alliance. “In the meantime, pressure on flax prices is likely to continue amid a global increase in demand for natural fibers.”

This demand has driven the price of European Flax, across all qualities (excluding transportation and intermediaries), from 6.05 euros per kilo in June to 8.23 euros in November.