Dairy products in Germany - statistics & facts
The EU is the largest producer of cow's milk worldwide, ahead of the U.S. Germany, Europe's largest economy, is a key player in the European dairy market, as well as being a strong national supplier. The agricultural sector records self-sufficiency rates for various products in order to measure whether they can be guaranteed domestically. If the indicator is under 100 percent, the respective products have to be imported. As of 2023, the German dairy industry showed various rates exceeding the mark, both for fresh milk and dairy products. Thus, the country can rely on its own dairy production, despite ongoing challenges. These include a decreasing number of agricultural businesses, shortage of skilled labor and higher energy costs in recent years.
