by PressGerman cereal harvest is down on the previous season
German and EU cereal harvests have declined due to a variety of factors
The 2024-2025 season was less successful for German farmers than the previous one. The German cereal harvest was 34.5 million tonnes, excluding corn. This is more than 9% lower than in the 2023-2024 season.
Minister Cem Ozdemir noted the decline in yields, which affected both cereals and rapeseed. Compared to the six-year average, the current value is 10% behind. The main reason for the drop in production was a reduction in the area under cultivation. In the current season, the country’s sown area was 5.3 million hectares, compared with an increase of almost 6% in the previous period.
Despite the decline in production, Ozdemir says the result is good. In addition, a number of regions and individual farms achieved record harvests.
Trends in Europe
It is worth noting that Germany is not the only European country where cereal production has fallen. In addition to the decline in the EU harvest, FAS analysts expect exports and imports to fall.
In the 2024-2025 m.y. season, the situation in the region is as follows:
1. Cereal production exceeded 267 million tonnes. This is 8 million tonnes less than last season.
2. Experts believe that the decline in volume is due to a reduction in sown area and adverse weather conditions.
3. Germany is one of the largest cereal producers in the EU, accounting for 25% of the total.
4. The reduction of harvest has also affected France, which accounts for 15% of the total cereal volume in the EU.
Many European countries have experienced heavy rainfall this season. Heavy rain early in the season has led to lower yields.
EU wheat production totalled more than 127 million tonnes. Volumes were down 6% due to heavy rains in France, which negatively impacted quality during the sowing season.
Corn production was nearly 60 million tonnes. France, Germany and Spain recorded high yields. At the same time, yields were lower in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Italy. In this case, high temperatures in the southeastern part of Europe had a negative impact.
The decline in cereal production in the region also affected exports. The forecast is that they will be around 42 million tonnes. Compared to 2023-2024 m.y., the volume will decrease by 13%.
Imports are also likely to decline, falling by around 5 million tonnes to just over 29 million tonnes. According to analysts, domestic supply will cover consumption to a greater extent.