Pork market
In year 2024 in the pork market after the turbulent years of the past there was an observed settlement, characterized its longer periods of stable prices at good levels. Statistically this also led to a significant increase in pig heads for the first time for longer (+ 1.1 proc. in May 2024 year).
Despite this consumption in Germany still significantly declining – per person was only 27,6 kg of pork per year, which partly may have been caused by increasing prices. Pork and pig prices stabilized in 2024 year at a lower level than in the previous year, but remained at an economically viable level. Being considering the increased population of pigs and the related increased production, in 2025 year prices may show a significant declining trend. Additionally there are concerns, that breeders of loch and fattenants will decrease production quicker than in recent years, if prices prove insufficient.
Market beef
After the growth of world beef consumption in 2024 year, which led to an increase in world production of 1.8%, the German market continued to record declines. Beef production in Germany shrank by 2.5 percent because of continued reduction of heads. The cause of the capita decline is not only the decrease in the number of milking cows. The significant decline is especially notable among creants under the sixth month of life.
In associated with limited supply and stable demand have observed higher than average price of young bulls. In the year 2025 predicts stable or significantly increasing demand for beef and possible consumption per person at 9,1 kg, which should lead to a steady or growing level of young bulls’ prices. Despite favorable development of prices, increasing production of cattle remains unrealistic due to structural problems, such as high costs of production, difficult conditions of production and unavailability of power.
Market poultry
The German meat market in 2024 year was stable and set for growth. Demand for poultry meat has stayed at a constant high level, as witnessed the 1-percent increase in production. Total production was 1.73 million tons of poultry meat, with the dominant product being meat from chicken, whose share was 70%. Consumption per person increased by 1 kg to 20.9 kg. Market.Meat indy stagnated at a level of 4.6 kg per person because of limited supplies, while the poultry sector has increased significantly.
The market has benefited from stable conditions, such as. moderate prices of feeds, but at the same time has struggled with problems, such as flu birds. It is expected that this positive trend will continue in 2025 year, mainly thanks to consumer preferences for agriculture focused on animal welfare and regional products. However increased imports and more rigorous regulations for protection of the environment may constitute challenges.
Market of eggs
In 2024 year, the market of eggs has significant nutrition, and production has increased by 4.8 percent. Consumption of eggs per person increased by 3.4 proc to 244 eggs, which is an increase by 8 eggs compared with the previous year. Particularly high was the demand for organic and free range eggs, which continues to grow.
Although the prices of white eggs from cage have fallen by 5 proc. in comparison with the previous year, in the first half of 2025 year, expected to be stable or fixed prices. Despite increased production and increasing demand, the supply has been affected by losses in production caused by flu birds. The production of eggs in the world is growing, at which the breeding chicken crops remains the key factor for high quality protein animals. In the medium period however the formation of prices will be affected by animal disease and dependence on imports.
Market milk
In 2024 year the milk market was affected by increased use of fat. This was reflected in record butter prices in the second half of the year for producers, dairies, industry, trade and consumers. Also the prices of cheese and other dairy products have increased. while the prices of milk in powder sourced from processing proteins have stayed at low, stable levels.
In addition to high demand, the main cause of high prices was the decline in production of raw milk, lower fat content in milk and reducing impact of virus infection with blue tongue (BTV), which caused significant losses in production. Added to this were permanent structural changes . According to Federal Statistical Office in May 2024 year. the number of milk producers was 49 500. A head of milk cows 3.67 million pcs, which meant a decrease of 2.8 percent in comparison with the previous. year this is the largest decrease in .during the last decade. Unclear political conditions for development and increasing costs, and also the deficiency of skilled workers have contributed and continue to the gradual departure from milk breeding. The average price of raw milk in 2024 year was 48 cent/kg, due to the good situation in the use of resources in the milk market. Current forecasts assume that taking into consideration reduced production due to expected proliferation of virus BTV will spring and unclear political situation, prices of dairy products remain at high level in 2025 year.
Market cereals
World markets cereals are going through a difficult phase after record prices in 2022 , which was affected by declining prices of producers and one of the weaker wheat harvests in the EU in last years. In the 2023/2024 season German producers had to face a decline in the price of bread wheat by 28 proc, reaching an average of 195 euros per ton, a in the case of feed barley the decline was even more drastic and was up 31 perc. to 165 euros per ton. In Autumn 2024 year, there are signs of slight stabilization – in October the price of bread wheat was 198 euros per ton.
Global production of wheat in the 2024/2025 season will increase only minimally and will higher 799 million ton. Russia retains position as the largest exporter with output 48 million ton, and in the second place is the EU with output 30 million ton. In 2024 the EU recorded the weakest wheat harvest since 2012 , recording a little 114 million tons. In France the decline was 28 proc, a Germany by 14 proc. The wheat harvest in Germany in 2024 year was 17.9 million ton.
Analysts predict a significant decrease in wheat crop area in the world in 2025 . In the forecast for agriculture for the year 2024-2035 the European Commission forecasts, that the total cereal production will rise 273.8 million tons per year, which means a moderate increase of 1.1 percent. It is expected that the consumption of cereals for feed purposes will decrease to 152.3 million ton per year, when the consumption by people is held at stable level 60.2 million ton yearly.
The markets continue to be affected by different factors of risk: extreme weather phenomena, variation of market and market prices and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Black Sea region. New market regulations, such as minimum prices for exports and the approaching weaker .harvest in Russia may improve export capabilities EU in the first half 2025 year. Generally things taken, all indicate that in the future the beans market will be tight. However the security of supplies seems to be guaranteed, though changes in large major dependence on weather conditions and political events.
The fruit market
Already in spring German fruit growers had to face serious challenges. Particularly negative impact was the late frosts at the end of April. This year’s extreme weather conditions with slow rainfall and hail have also problems for fruit growers.
The apple harvest in Germany has reached the lowest level since 2017 , reaching about 750 000 tons. The cause was mainly damage caused by frost. Strawberry harvest also reached historically low level 120 000 tons. Lower harvests and lower stocks of fruits grains have contributed to greater stability of prices compared with previous years. European supplies of apples and parsley showed at the end of the year significantly lower availability than in the previous years. After a long period of oversupply in markets of pest fruits, the relationship between consumption and sales is now more balanced. The degree of German self-sufficiency in fruit is almost 20 percent.
Market vegetables
Hard weather conditions, a especially heavy rainfall this year, significantly hindered crop this year. Many areas in Germany were difficult to pass because of dampness, which delayed the cultivation of soil and seed or planting. Particularly it affected this carrots and cebulls, whose availability was temporarily limited.
Despite increasing the acreage of crops of ground vegetables by 2 percent, to 120 thousand hectares, the harvest was by 1 percent. lower than in the previous year and was 3.68 million tons. Warm and humid weather has contributed to an increase in the number of pests and diseases. The situation was deteriorated additionally by limited availability of fields to apply measures to protect plants. In those conditions particularly suffered lettuce and leaf vegetables, which resulted in lower plants. Imports of fresh vegetables remained at generally stable, increasing only slightly by 1 proc. When tomatoes, cucumbers and apricots were imported in increased quantities, imports of cebula and march declined.
Market food organic
Assortment of dry food organic (ie.Any food with long life or that has been processed, and usually sold in packages) is enjoying and increasing interest in traditional food shops and drugstores. According analysts of the market from the retail panel NIQ Nielsen, selling packaged organic food in food shops, discounters and drugstores increased from January to September by 9.7 percent. in comparison with the previous year, with increased sales at 9 perc. The share of organic products in those channels sales was 5.2 percent.
According to experts from the industry, the dynamic increase in sales of dry food is due to the fact that in traditional food stores the offer of organic food has increased. From borders according to GfK data AMI assortment of fresh organic products (i.e. mainly beans, meat products, fruits and vegetables) recorded from January to September 2024 year increase volume only by 2.2 percent., a sales increase o
1.4 proc. Assortment of fresh food, which previously was the leader in the area of growth, still has
the largest share in the market, besides food for babies.
However, the development of organic markets and shops
with
growing products raises concerns. Although the retail sector sells specialized organic food not shrinking
already so much, as happened in the crisis season 2022/2023, this continues to
lose
shares in the market to retailers of food, discounters and drugstores. However in the organic segment still
lead small consumer markets with share in sales of 26.3 percent, a next place are discounters
with22.9percent,andespeciallythefastgrowingdrugstoreswith18.8percent.
Dataonsalesinshopsoforganicfoodforthefirstninemonths2024year.indicatethegeneralorganicgrowthofthemarketbyover5percentafteradeclinein2022yearandstagnationin2023year.in2024yearexpectedthereisagrowthtrend.Growthislowerthan20percentageof20year,butisapproachingtheaverageannualrateofgrowthfrom7to8proc.
