Pork trade of Germany – From a former net-importer to the biggest exporter of pork in ten years

Data source: EuroStat (2014)

Data source: UN Comtrade (2014)

The quantity of produced pork in Germany was for a long time under the level of consumption. In the 80s and 90s the self-sufficiency rate for pork varied between 80 % and 90 %.

During the last ten years the produced amount of pork increased, the level of pork consumption stayed stable and hence as well the self-sufficiency rate increased. In the year 2007 the rate was for the first time above 100 %. Even though Germany was depending on imports, a significant share was exported (see. figure 1).

With an increased production a decrease of pork imports could be expected. Contrary these expectations the level of imports increased slightly. This can be explained with the type of pork consumption in Germany. While in the past every part of the pig was consumed, the German consumer prefers nowadays parts with, from their view, higher quality like pork chop or filet. Affirming to this fact, not only the amount, also the value of imports increased.

Pork exports grew significant since 2003. This strong increase was based on several facts. The meat industry has, in comparison to other EU countries, relatively low slaughter costs. A second point is that the industry has efficient production structures. Furthermore strong discount supermarkets, which demand cheap meat products, led to efficient marketing channels.

Last but not least, the change in pork consumption was a factor of success for the industry. While the parts like the filet could be sold for a high price inside Germany other parts like the edible offal were not demanded anymore. With the better access to the markets in Russia and South-East Asia it was possible to export these parts for a good price as well.

In combination these factors benefited the rise of Germany to the biggest exporter of pork in the world. In the year 2013 1.7 million tons were exported. Germany is followed by the USA, Denmark, Spain and Canada (see table 1).