February 14, 2023

 

Sharp drop in Germany's meat production last year

 

 

Meat production in Germany fell significantly in 2023, the country's Federal Statistical Office said.

 

Data from Destatis said Germany's meat production decreased 4% last year to 6.8 million tonnes.

 

The preliminary figures meant "domestic meat production has fallen for the seventh year in a row since its peak in 2016 [of] 8.25 million tonnes", Destatis said.

 

Figures showed 47.9 million pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and horses were processed last year. The data highlighted 702.2 million chickens, turkeys and ducks were slaughtered.

 

However, the number of pigs slaughtered decreased 6.8% to 43.8 million. There was a similar drop in the tonnage processed at slaughterhouses to 4.2 million tonnes.

 

According to Destatis, the number of pigs of domestic origin slaughtered in Germany fell 7.7% to almost 42.3 million. Imported pigs rose 19.5% to 1.5 million animals, it added.

 

The number of cattle slaughtered commercially stayed almost stagnant in 2023, dipping 0.3% to three million animals.

 

However, slaughter weights have slightly increased in all cattle categories, Destatis said. The volume of processed beef inched up 0.6% to 992,900 tonnes.

 

The quantity of poultry meat processed increased by 1.4% to 1.6 million tonnes last year. Turkey meat production increased by 2.7% to 417,000 tonnes.

 

Federal data on meat consumption in Germany in 2023 has yet to be published.

 

In 2022, the country saw a decline in per-capita meat consumption of 4.2kg to just under 52kg.

- Just Food