The cereals market in Germany

Cereals include all plants grown for their grains and used for human and animal nutrition, but also for industrial purposes. The most important cereals in the world are wheat, corn, rice, barley and oats.

Between 2008 and 2023, grain production worldwide increased by an average of 1.41% per year [United States Department of Agriculture]. The leading producers of grain are China, USA, India and Russia. World grain production is dominated by corn, ahead of wheat and rice, which together account for 90% of world grain production. Other cereals produced include barley, oats and sorghum.

The European Union plays an important role and has a positive trade balance. The largest producers Within the EU are France, Germany, Turkey, Poland and Romania. The crop size within Europe varies greatly and between 2008 and 2021 it decreased by 0.54% per year on average [Eurostat].

In Germany, about one third of the agricultural land is used for cereals. The production value of grain produced in Germany is 12.8 billion euros in 2022 [Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture]. Most of the grain is used for animal feed (53.6%), especially for the environmentally damaging factory farming. Food (22.8%) is second, followed by energy (9.5%) and industrial uses such as alcohol production (8.2%).

The following market study examines current trends and consumer behavior, as well as the market structure and competitive situation. From this, insightful information can be gained for companies in the sector.