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Agriculture in Germany - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Maximilian Weikert Maximilian Weikert Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: July 2023 WZ A01.00DE

Revenue

€60.7bn

2023

€62.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

850k

Businesses

250k

Wages

€X.Xbn

Agriculture in Germany industry analysis

The industries operating in the agricultural sector are involved in crop cultivation and livestock farming. Their most important products include cereals, oilseeds, potatoes, vegetables, raw milk, animals for slaughter and eggs. In the current year, turnover in the sector is expected to increase by 4.7%, totalling 61.3 billion euros. Between 2019 and 2024, it was subject to significant fluctuations and only increased by an average of 0.7% per year. This was due to fluctuating crop yields and producer prices for the aforementioned agricultural commodities, depending on the marketing year. Cereal and potato cultivation, for example, recorded poor harvests, particularly in 2020 due to the heatwave at that time. In contrast, pig farming benefited from growing demand for pork in Asia in 2019. Dairy cow farming achieved high sales in 2022 due to rising producer prices.

The war in Ukraine and the reciprocal sanctions between the European Union and Russia continue to characterise the economic situation in German agriculture. Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of grain and Russia is one of the largest exporters of fertilisers. As a result of the war, both wheat and milk prices as well as the cost of fertilisers, natural gas and fuel have risen sharply. In the current year, both prices and costs are falling. The high production costs are an enormous burden for all sectors, partly because they cannot pass them on directly to the consumer markets.

In the future, climatic conditions with increasing temperatures and water shortages as well as rising input prices will have a strong impact on the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, turnover in the sector is expected to grow by an average of 0.5% over the next five years to €62.8 billion in 2029. This is due to rising producer prices for agricultural products, growing global demand for German agricultural commodities, increasing health and environmental awareness as well as increased demand for regional and organic products. As part of the reorganisation of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy, organic farming in particular is likely to increase its turnover, as agricultural subsidies will increasingly be linked to compliance with sustainability criteria.

Trends and Insights

  • The sealing of agricultural land through infrastructure and housing development measures is depriving the sector of its production basis. The situation is exacerbated by compensation measures under nature conservation law, which provide for agricultural land to be set aside.
  • Dairy cow farming is the industry with the highest turnover in the sector. Although livestock numbers are declining, the milk yield per individual animal is increasing thanks to improved feed and husbandry conditions.
  • The southern region has the largest share of agricultural businesses. Dairy cow and poultry farms are particularly concentrated in the south of Germany. Vegetable farms also benefit from the mild climate and high purchasing power.
  • Products in the agricultural sector can often be substituted for one another. For example, cheap potatoes are a popular substitute for expensive meat, especially in times of crisis. In view of increasing health awareness, demand is also shifting from pork to poultry meat.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €60.7bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Historical structural change has permanently altered the face of the agricultural sector

  • According to the German Farmers' Association, there were around 1.7 million farms in Germany in 1949, employing 4.8 million people. As arable farming was only motorised to a limited extent at this time, one farmer only fed ten people in 1949.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Agriculture in Germany
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The agricultural sector must overcome challenges at national and international level

  • The world's agricultural markets are highly internationalised. This means that social and economic developments around the world are influencing domestic agriculture and its strategic direction.

Biggest companies in the Agriculture in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025
Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH
272.3
JLW Holding AG
174.8
Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für Legehennen GmbH
136.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Agriculture in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dairy cow husbandry, Cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds and Growing vegetables and potatoes. Dairy cow husbandry is the largest segment of the Agriculture in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Dairy cow farming accounts for the largest share of turnover in the German agricultural sector

  • This sector is dedicated to the breeding and keeping of dairy cows and milk production.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The agricultural sector comprises the planned management of agricultural land by companies. The aim is to obtain agricultural raw materials from crop cultivation and livestock farming. In addition, there are the tasks of primarily unpaid landscape management and the services of contractors.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Agriculture industry in Germany include Dairy cow husbandry, Cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds, Growing vegetables and potatoes, Pig farming, Poultry farming, Agricultural services for plant cultivation and Mixed agriculture.

Companies

Companies covered in the Agriculture industry in Germany include Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH, JLW Holding AG and Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für Legehennen GmbH.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Agriculture industry in Germany include producer organisation, barriers, surface equipment, jungsau, degree of self-sufficiency and growth threshold.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 01 - Agriculture in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The sealing of agricultural land through infrastructure and housing development measures is depriving the sector of its production basis. The situation is exacerbated by comp...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Dairy cow farming is the industry with the highest turnover in the sector. Although livestock numbers are declining, the milk yield per individual animal is increasing thanks...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The southern region has the largest share of agricultural businesses. Dairy cow and poultry farms are particularly concentrated in the south of Germany. Vegetable farms also ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Products in the agricultural sector can often be substituted for one another. For example, cheap potatoes are a popular substitute for expensive meat, especially in times of ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the sector. In both crop farming and livestock farming, the agricultural structure is primarily made up of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of JLW Holding AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für Legehennen GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for JLW Holding AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für Legehennen GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The reorientation of the Common Agricultural Policy envisages halving the use of plant protection products by 2030. Stricter regulations are therefore to be expected in futur...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Material costs are the largest single expense in agriculture. Increased feed and fertiliser prices as well as the high acquisition costs for agricultural machinery have recen...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Agriculture industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Agriculture industry in Germany is €60.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Agriculture industry in Germany in 2023?

There are 250k businesses in the Agriculture industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2018 and 2023.

How may import tariffs affect the Agriculture industry in Germany?

The Agriculture industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Agriculture industry in Germany?

The Agriculture industry in Germany is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.

Has the Agriculture industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Agriculture industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Agriculture industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Agriculture industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Agriculture industry in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Agriculture industry in Germany are Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH, JLW Holding AG and Spreenhagener Vermehrungsbetrieb für Legehennen GmbH

What does the Agriculture industry in Germany include?

Dairy cow husbandry and Cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds are part of the Agriculture industry in Germany.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Agriculture industry in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in the Agriculture industry in Germany is Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH.

How competitive is the Agriculture industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Agriculture industry in Germany.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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