Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €6.8bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Adaptation strategies are becoming increasingly important for farmers in the face of climate uncertainties
- Agricultural yields in the cultivation of cereals, oilseeds and pulses in Germany have been increasingly affected by heatwaves, dry spells and irregular rainfall since 2020. A below-average grain harvest of around 40.1 million tonnes is expected for 2025, which corresponds to a decline of 5% compared to the average of the last ten years. Individual hot days can reduce yields by 50 to 100 kilograms per hectare, while drought stress and a lack of precipitation hit summer cereals and pulses particularly hard. In addition to plant variety, timing of sowing and harvesting as well as input requirements, regional location factors such as soil fertility, temperature and rainfall determine the actual harvest quantities. The accumulation of extreme weather events increases the fluctuations and makes planning reliability more difficult.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Infrastructure and construction measures deprive agriculture of the basis for production
- Agricultural land in Germany continues to be lost on a large scale. Currently, 54 hectares per day are sealed for construction projects, which corresponds to a weekly loss of 378 hectares that are taken away from agriculture. According to a study by the Thünen Institute, more than 300,000 hectares of agricultural land could be converted into settlements, transport routes or areas for renewable energies by 2030. Since reunification, more than one million hectares have already been sealed and almost as many have been taken out of production through decommissioning.
Biggest companies in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
JLW Holding AG | 168.9 | |
Deutsche Agrar Holding GmbH | 81.7 | |
Demeterhof Schwab GmbH & Co. KG | 81.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Wheat, Barley and Other cereals. Wheat is the largest segment of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing in Germany.
Trends and Insights
Wheat is Germany's most important grain
- Wheat is either sown as winter wheat in the autumn and harvested in the summer of the following year or planted as spring wheat in the spring and harvested in the summer of the same year.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This sector includes the agricultural cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds in open fields. Germany has 11.6 million hectares of arable land and cereals are grown on 6.1 million hectares of this, almost half of which is wheat.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany include Wheat, Barley, Grain maize, Oilseeds and Pulses.Companies
Companies covered in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany include JLW Holding AG, Deutsche Agrar Holding GmbH and Demeterhof Schwab GmbH & Co. KG.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany include oleochemistry, follow-up, nodule bacteria and surface equipment.Industry Code
WZ 01.11 - Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing 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
Infrastructure and construction projects are depriving agriculture of its basis for production. Every year, many hectares of agricultural land are sealed for infrastructure a...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Wheat is the most important type of grain in Germany. Barley and rye will gain in importance in the future due to their climate resistance and the cultivation of pulses is al...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- 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
Bavaria is home to by far the most farms in the sector and is also where the most grain is produced. Grain is grown on over half of the arable land in Bavaria, which accounts...
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
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
High land acquisition costs make it difficult for small agricultural businesses in particular to expand their operations. The limited availability of arable land is causing l...
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 2020-2025
- 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 cultivation of cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Most companies only have one farm and a few employees. The high initial investment and limited ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of JLW Holding AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Deutsche Agrar Holding GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Demeterhof Schwab GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for JLW Holding AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Deutsche Agrar Holding GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Demeterhof Schwab GmbH & Co. KG, 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
Cereal farmers must comply with the Fertiliser Ordinance. This ordinance regulates the use of plant additives and growing media. The aim is to protect the environment and min...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
Personnel costs in the industry are low due to the high level of automation, but depreciation is very high because a lot of capital is invested in machinery.
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany in 2025?
The market size of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany is €6.8bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 48,133 businesses in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany?
The Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing 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 Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany?
The Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany are JLW Holding AG, Deutsche Agrar Holding GmbH and Demeterhof Schwab GmbH & Co. KG
What does the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany include?
Wheat and Barley are part of the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany is JLW Holding AG.
How competitive is the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing 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.
