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Vegetable Growing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: September 2024 WZ A01.13DE

Revenue

€8.0bn

2024

€8.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

117k

Businesses

27,132

Wages

€X.Xbn

Vegetable Growing in Germany industry analysis

Businesses operating in this sector grow potatoes and vegetables in open fields and greenhouses. The industry's most important products include potatoes, root vegetables, cabbage and lettuce. In the current year, turnover is expected to fall by 4.3% and thus amount to 8 billion euros. Between 2019 and 2024, industry turnover was subject to strong fluctuations and fell by 0.5% on average. This is due to fluctuating harvest yields depending on the marketing year. For example, the potato harvest in 2023 was almost 10% lower than in the previous year. However, external influences also have an impact on the sales performance of industry players; for example, the coronavirus crisis led to a sharp drop in sales in 2020.As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, demand for industry products from the catering sector fell. There was a particular slump in demand for potatoes for processing into French fries. This situation led to a significant drop in sales in 2020, although sales recovered somewhat the following year due to a good harvest and the easing of restrictions in the second half of the year. In 2022, the harvest volume of vegetables and potatoes fell again, which weakened sales growth. Positive impetus for the sector comes from a continued increase in environmental awareness. Supply communities, also known as community-supported agriculture, are becoming increasingly important in urban and rural areas. This is increasing the demand for regional products, which is having a positive impact on the turnover of industry players.Climatic conditions and the cost of operating resources will continue to have a strong influence on the industry in the future. Nevertheless, industry turnover is expected to increase by an average of 1.5% per year over the next five years to €8.6 billion in 2029. This is due to growing health and environmental awareness as well as the increasing demand for regional and organic products. In addition to organic farms, vegetable cultivation under glass is likely to benefit in particular.

Trends and Insights

  • Vegetable growers have a high seasonal demand for labour. Over the past five years, the number of available seasonal workers in Germany has fallen significantly, which is why more and more vegetable growers are no longer able to find enough harvest workers.
  • Potatoes are the top-selling product in the sector, followed by root and tuber vegetables. Potatoes are recording a growing share of sales despite declining harvest volumes due to high prices.
  • There are many small businesses in the sector in southern Germany. The climatic conditions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are particularly favourable for growing vegetables, as the southern federal states have a milder climate than other regions of Germany.
  • Competition in the vegetable growing sector is fierce. As vegetables have to fulfil certain requirements in order to reach the retail trade, the sector's products are relatively homogeneous. This means that price is usually the decisive factor in customers' purchasing decisions.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €8.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The development of sales and profits depends on various factors

  • While the sales of industry players are primarily dependent on the weather and consumer trends, profits are mainly influenced by cost developments and trends in downstream industries.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Vegetable Growing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Future sales development depends on numerous factors

  • In the coming years, important influencing factors such as health and environmental awareness as well as the monthly net household income of consumers are likely to develop positively and thus make a sustainable contribution to sales growth in the vegetable and potato cultivation sector.

Biggest companies in the Vegetable Growing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH
268.1
Pfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse eG
161.6
Pilzland Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
94.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Vegetable Growing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Potatoes, Root and tuber vegetables and Leaf and stem vegetables. Potatoes is the largest segment of the Vegetable Growing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Potatoes record a growing share of sales despite declining harvest volumes due to high prices

  • This segment comprises almost 550 authorised potato varieties. A third of the potatoes produced in Germany are processed into food, while a quarter are consumed directly as table potatoes. Just under a fifth is used to produce starch.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector includes the cultivation of vegetables, melons and tubers such as potatoes. Farmers in this sector grow leaf and stem vegetables, fruit vegetables, mushrooms, roots, bulbs and tubers. This sector does not include the cultivation of aromatic and spice plants.

What's included in this industry?

PotatoesRoot and tuber vegetablesLeaf and stem vegetablesFruit vegetablesCabbage

Companies

Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbHPfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse eGPilzland Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PRODUCER ORGANISATIONORGANIC FARMINGPESTIZIDEFIELD VEGETABLESDEGREE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 01.13 - Vegetable Growing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Vegetable growers have a high seasonal demand for labour. Over the past five years, the number of available seasonal workers in Germany has fallen significantly, which is why...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Potatoes are the top-selling product in the sector, followed by root and tuber vegetables. Potatoes are recording a growing share of sales despite declining harvest volumes d...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

There are many small businesses in the sector in southern Germany. The climatic conditions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are particularly favourable for growing vegetables...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the vegetable growing sector is fierce. As vegetables have to fulfil certain requirements in order to reach the retail trade, the sector's products are relativ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the vegetable and potato cultivation industry. The industry is highly fragmented and consists mainly of small agricultural businesses.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Pfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse eG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Pilzland Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Pfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse eG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Pilzland Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Fertiliser Ordinance regulates the use of plant additives and growing media. The aim of the ordinance is to limit the risk to the environment and the loss of nutrients.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The level of profit margins in vegetable cultivation depends heavily on weather conditions. As these are uncontrollable external factors, crop yields and profits in open fiel...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany is €8.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Vegetable Growing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 27,132 businesses in the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Vegetable Growing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Vegetable Growing market in Germany are Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH, Pfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse eG and Pilzland Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

What does the Vegetable Growing in Germany include?

Potatoes and Root and tuber vegetables are part of the Vegetable Growing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Vegetable Growing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Erzeugerorganisation für Obst und Gemüse Mecklenburger Ernte GmbH.

How competitive is the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Vegetable Growing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing in Germany
  • Mixed Farming in Germany

Complementors

  • Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in Germany
  • Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Wholesaling in Germany

International industries

  • Vegetable Farming in the US
  • Vegetable Farming in Canada
  • Under Cover Vegetable Growing in Australia
  • Outdoor Vegetable Growing in Australia
  • Vegetable Growing in New Zealand

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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