Germany's agricultural exports shrank last year, at least in volume. Due to the sharp rise in raw material prices, the export value did increase, according to a forecast by the German agricultural export federation GEFA.
In volume, exports of agricultural goods (including machinery) fell by 6,3% to 60,6 million tonnes. This can be seen as a break in the trend, because in the previous years there was always an increasing trend. The decline is partly due to the disruption in chains, which puts pressure on volumes. Germany is still faced with an export ban on pork in many countries outside Europe due to African swine fever. The hard lockdown in China also meant that there was less sales in that country.
Prices drive export value
The export value of agricultural exports did increase by 14,3% to €98,5 billion. This is mainly due to the sharp increase in raw material prices, partly as a result of the war in Ukraine. Germany exports a lot of grain, as well as dairy products, and those prices have risen sharply. The agricultural trade surplus in Germany has been decreasing in recent years. Over the first ten months this amounted to €16,2 billion negative. This is because Germany imports relatively expensive foodstuffs.