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According to provisional estimates from the Bundesinformationszentrum Landwirtschaft (BZL), in 2025 consumers in Germany consumed 54.9 kg of meat per person, representing an increase of 1.4 kg compared to the previous year. The main driver was record poultry consumption, close to 15 kg per person.
After three years, the consumption of meat and meat products has increased again, although levels remain below those recorded in previous years, such as in 2011, when consumption reached 63.8 kg per person. The exception is poultry: according to the supply balance from BZL for 2025, consumption increased by 1 kg to reach a historical maximum of 14.7 kg per person, representing nearly 27% of total meat consumption.
However, pork remains the most consumed meat. With an average of 28.3 kg per person, it accounts for close to 52% of total meat consumption. Beef and veal consumption has a slight increase, by just over 200 grams, reaching 2.7 kg per person, despite higher consumer prices.
Despite the increase in consumption, meat production in Germany declines by 0.3% in 2025, reaching 7.3 million tons. This decrease was mainly due to a reduction in cattle slaughter, which led to a 6% decline in net beef and veal production compared to 2024. Poultry production, was affected among other factors by avian influenza, remained at 1.5 million tons, slightly below the previous year. In contrast, pork production increased by 1.1% , as producers did not reduce herd sizes as in previous years and increased of average weight at slaughter.
To meet higher consumption, meat imports, including meat products and offal, increased by nearly 11% reaching approximately 3/6 million tons. This increase was particularly notable in beef, but also in poultry and sheep meat. Although exports continued to exceed imports, they increased by jus over 1% compared to 2024. Total meat use —including losses, industrial uses, pet food, and trade— increased by 4.5% to 6.37 million tons.
Due to the slight decline in national production, the self-sufficiency rate fell by 4.5 percentage points to 114.6%. In beef, this indicator fell below 100%for the first time, while poultry it stood at 91.3%. In pork, the self-sufficiency rate remained the highest, at close to 139%, although for high-value cuts such as tenderloins, hams, or chops, it is estimated at around 80%.
April 7, 2026 / BLE / Germany.
https://www.ble.de/
