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Germany has more than 84 million of the world’s wealthiest consumers and is by far the biggest market in the European Union. The German market offers good opportunities for U.S. exporters of consumer-oriented agricultural products. In 2021, total U.S. exports of agricultural and related products to Germany reached $2.5 billion.

Public rejection of genetically engineered (GE) plants in Germany is widespread. There is no commercial GE crop production and practically no food labeled as containing “genetically modified organisms” (“GMO”) on the market. Despite this, Germany is home to world-class companies that develop and supply GE seeds globally from facilities outside the European Union. Germany’s livestock industry is a major consumer of imported GE soybeans for use as animal feed.

Germany has more than 83 million of the world’s wealthiest consumers and is by far the biggest market in the European Union. Although halal and kosher food are considered niche markets, the German market offers opportunities for U.S. exporters of such products. This report provides U.S. exporters with background information and suggestions for entering the German market.

This report summarizes the results of the 2022 German deciduous and stone fruit tree census and focuses on developments in the planted varieties of apples and pears. Since the 2017 census, total planted area decreased by 1.45 percent, and 9.2 percent of German fruit farms ended operations.

With more than 83 million of the world’s wealthiest consumers, Germany is the largest market for food and agricultural products in the European Union. The German market offers good opportunities for U.S. exporters of consumer-oriented food and agriculture products, particularly nuts, fish and seafood products, dried fruits, bakery products, and organic products.

Germany is the third-largest importer of cherries in the world after China/Hong Kong and Russia. From 2010 to 2021, between 52 and 77 percent of the cherries consumed in Germany were imported, with the majority of imports originating in other EU member states.

The outcomes of COVID-19 pandemic have undeniably changed the gastronomic habits in Europe for the foreseeable future. Behaviors that developed over the lockdown months are continuing to shape purchasing preferences of German consumers.

Germany is one of the largest markets for fruit in Europe. The relative affluence of its population of 83 million people makes it an attractive outlet for exporters from many countries. This product brief highlights certain aspects of the German fresh fruit market and provides marketing, trade, and regulatory information for U.S. exporters.

Despite the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, retail sales revenues in Germany have grown continuously since 2019. In 2021, the German retail sector recorded over $618 billion euros in sales revenues. Retailers benefitted from higher consumer spending for premium food products, while food service businesses suffered from low hospitality and catering demand during the series of lockdowns put in place.

Zimbabwe’s corn crop for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is estimated at 1.6 million metric tons (MMT), representing a drop of 43 percent from the bumper crop of 2.7 MMT produced in MY 2021/22. Many factors contributed to the drop in production including sub-optimal weather conditions, high input costs and macro-economic challenges.

Germany, the largest economy in the European Union, is a large and promising pet food market. Imports of pet food account for more than half of the total market. While the market is mature and somewhat saturated, it is steadily growing.

Post forecasts that sugar cane production in Zimbabwe will increase by 4 percent to 3.7 million metric tons (MT) in the 2022/23 marketing year (MY), based on normal weather conditions, availability of sufficient irrigation water, and an increase in area planted.