Germany's Meat Production Rises for the First Time Since 2016
Germany's meat production increased by 1.4% in 2024, marking its first rise since 2016, driven by higher pork and poultry output, though overall levels remain significantly lower than their peak.
After years of decline, Germany’s meat production is on the rise again. In 2024, domestic meat production increased by 1.4%, reaching 6.9 million tonnes. This marks the first growth in the industry since 2016, though production levels are still significantly lower than their peak.
A Look at the Numbers
Germany's meat industry has been in decline for several years. In 2016, the country produced 8.4 million tonnes of meat. Despite the recent increase, production remains about 25% lower than that record year.
In 2024:
Pork production grew by 1.9% to 4.3 million tonnes.
Beef production slightly increased by 1.2% to 1 million tonnes.
Poultry production saw a modest rise to 1.6 million tonnes.
What’s Driving the Change?
One of the key factors in this growth is the increase in pig slaughtering. The total number of pigs, sheep, horses, goats, and cattle slaughtered in Germany reached 48.7 million. The number of pigs slaughtered increased by 1.2%, reaching 44.6 million.
However, while the number of domestically raised pigs grew by 1.6%, the number of imported pigs slaughtered in Germany dropped by 9.2%.
Poultry and Beef Trends
The poultry sector also saw a small increase, with the total slaughter volume rising by 0.3% to 693.3 million birds. This was mainly due to a 1.8% rise in young broiler meat production, which reached 1.1 million tonnes. Turkey meat production, however, declined by 2.1%.
In the beef sector, the number of cattle slaughtered remained nearly unchanged, with a slight 0.1% increase. However, higher slaughter weights led to a 1.2% rise in total beef production.
The Future of Germany’s Meat Industry
While this increase in production is notable, Germany’s meat industry is still adapting to long-term challenges. Rising production costs, changing consumer preferences, and stricter environmental regulations continue to shape the sector. Also, the spread of diseases are a huge problem.
Additionally, the halal meat market in Germany is expanding. In a recent move, UK-based food investor Perwyn acquired local German company Gürkan to introduce its French halal brand, Isla Délice, into the German market.
Germany remains one of Europe’s major meat producers, and while this growth is a positive sign, the future of the industry will depend on various economic and consumer trends.
Source: https://www.just-food.com/news/germany-meat-production-rises-for-first-time-since-2016/?cf-view