The Headline: Potatoes, Rye and the Great Outdoors
What does Germany grow? Eurostat's crop statistics (dataset apro_cpsh1, 2016-2025) point to three headline answers: the EU's largest potato harvest, its largest rye harvest and its largest green maize (fodder maize) crop. Across the crops tracked in this dataset, Germany harvested roughly 133.0 million tonnes in 2025 — about 19.2% of the EU-27 total, second only to France.
Potatoes lead the crown list: 13.87 million tonnes (13 870.7 thousand tonnes) in 2025 — 24.3% of EU production — ahead of France (10.20 million tonnes / 10 201.9 thousand tonnes). Green maize followed at 30.63 million tonnes (30 628.3 thousand tonnes), 35.8% of the EU total, and wheat and spelt reached 23.15 million tonnes (23 152.0 thousand tonnes), second behind France.
Rye completed the picture with 3.03 million tonnes (3 034.9 thousand tonnes, flagged d for a definition change) — 40.9% of EU output, with Poland second at 30.5%. In all, Germany held 18 EU number-one titles in the 2025 rankings and 41 top-three finishes.
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | 2025 production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | EU rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 32326.6 | 27.6% | 2 |
| Green maize | 30628.3 | 35.8% | 1 |
| Wheat and spelt | 23152.0 | 16.0% | 2 |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 13870.7 | 24.3% | 1 |
| Barley | 11336.6 | 20.2% | 2 |
| Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | 4944.8 | 8.2% | 5 |
| Rape and turnip rape seeds | 3980.2 | 19.9% | 2 |
| Rye | 3034.9d | 40.9% | 1 |
Eighteen Crowns: Europe's Vegetable Patch
Germany's supermarket-aisle dominance is the story most visitors miss. The country grew 87.4% of the EU's asparagus (103.9 thousand tonnes), 76.7% of its hops (46.5 thousand tonnes in 2024), 75.0% of radishes (91.5 thousand tonnes) and 70.0% of gherkins (213.7 thousand tonnes in 2024) in the latest rankings.
The list runs on: cabbages (683.7 thousand tonnes, 65.6% of EU output), courgettes and marrows (51.1 thousand tonnes, 66.2%), celery (16.1 thousand tonnes, 58.5%), lettuces (223.4 thousand tonnes, 58.2%), spinach (71.3 thousand tonnes, 54.0%), cauliflower and broccoli (135.6 thousand tonnes, 53.9%), strawberries (128.4 thousand tonnes, 51.2%), endives (15.4 thousand tonnes, 50.1%), carrots (865.7 thousand tonnes, 50.0%) and beetroot (168.1 thousand tonnes, 47.3%) all finished first. Add second places in tomatoes under glass, leeks and celeriac, and Germany's 41 podium finishes include most of Europe's salad bowl.
All values in 1 000 t. Crops where Germany ranked first in the EU in the latest year available.
| Crop | Latest production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrots | 865.7 | 50.0% | 2025 |
| Cabbages | 683.7 | 65.6% | 2025 |
| Lettuces | 223.4 | 58.2% | 2025 |
| Gherkins | 213.7 | 70.0% | 2024 |
| Beetroot | 168.1 | 47.3% | 2025 |
| Cauliflower and broccoli | 135.6 | 53.9% | 2025 |
| Strawberries | 128.4 | 51.2% | 2025 |
| Asparagus | 103.9 | 87.4% | 2025 |
| Radishes | 91.5 | 75.0% | 2025 |
| Spinach | 71.3 | 54.0% | 2025 |
| Courgettes and marrows | 51.1 | 66.2% | 2025 |
| Hops | 46.5 | 76.7% | 2024 |
Volume Watch: Potatoes and Beet Climb, Fodder Falls
Two steady climbers define the German decade. Potato output rose 28.8% net, from 10.77 million tonnes (10 772.1 thousand tonnes) in 2016 to 13.87 million tonnes (13 870.7 thousand tonnes) in 2025 (a 2.85% CAGR), and sugar beet gained 26.8% (from 25 497.2 to 32 326.6 thousand tonnes) — enough to close in on leader France.
The fodder story mirrors France's. Green maize slumped 66.7% from 92.09 million tonnes (92 087.7 thousand tonnes) in 2016 to 30.63 million tonnes (30 628.3 thousand tonnes) in 2025 as dairy herds shrank, while grain maize and corn-cob-mix moved the other way, up 23.1% (to 4 944.8 thousand tonnes).
Among the smaller cereals, oats boomed 74.4% (from 535.9 to 934.8 thousand tonnes) and triticale fell 23.6% (to 1 830.8 thousand tonnes), while wheat eased 5.4% but stayed within reach of its 2016 level. Apples finished the decade at 1.14 million tonnes (1 137.8 thousand tonnes), fourth in the EU.
All values in 1 000 t. Net change between the first and last year of the 2016-2025 window.
| Crop | Germany 2016 (1 000 t) | Germany 2025 (1 000 t) | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 10772.1 | 13870.7 | +28.8% |
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 25497.2 | 32326.6 | +26.8% |
| Green maize | 92087.7 | 30628.3 | -66.7% |
| Grain maize and corn-cob-mix | 4017.8 | 4944.8 | +23.1% |
| Oats | 535.9 | 934.8 | +74.4% |
| Wheat and spelt | 24463.8 | 23152.0 | -5.4% |
| Triticale | 2397.3 | 1830.8 | -23.6% |
The Yield-per-Hectare Race
German potato yields reached 45.96 tonnes per hectare in 2025 — third among the seven producers covered here, behind Denmark (48.87 t/ha) and the Netherlands (46.11 t/ha) and ahead of Belgium (44.94 t/ha), France (42.2 t/ha), Ireland (40.74 t/ha) and Sweden (38.58 t/ha).
In wheat and spelt, Germany's 7.83 t/ha ranked fifth: Ireland (9.92 t/ha), the Netherlands (9.14 t/ha), Belgium (9.08 t/ha) and Denmark (8.60 t/ha) led, with Sweden next at 7.32 t/ha and France at 7.26 t/ha.
Stability backs the volumes. Across 2016-2025, German barley output varied with a coefficient of variation (CV) of just 4.9% — the most stable large-crop series in this report — cauliflower and broccoli (CV 3.3%), lettuces (3.9%) and strawberries (6.5%) are all Very stable, while potatoes (11.0%) and apples (15.9%, with a deepest single-year drawdown of -42.2%) grade Moderately stable.
Potato yields (R1000) for 2025, in tonnes per hectare.
| Country | Potato yield 2025 (t/ha) |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 48.87 |
| Netherlands | 46.11 |
| Germany | 45.96 |
| Belgium | 44.94 |
| France | 42.2 |
| Ireland | 40.74 |
| Sweden | 38.58 |
Land Use, Stability and What Buyers Should Know
Germany farms a third of the EU's green maize area (1 963.1 thousand hectares, 34.1% of the EU total) and 32.8% of its rye area (530.1 thousand hectares) — though the rye series carries the definition-change flag d and only covers 2025 in the current release. Sugar beet area expanded 15.8% to 387.4 thousand hectares (26.9% of the EU total), and potato area grew 24.5% to 301.8 thousand hectares (20.3% of the EU total), while wheat area slipped 7.6% to 2 958.4 thousand hectares and oat area jumped 62.2%.
For buyers, the reliability story is strongest in the vegetable aisle: across 2016-2025, cauliflower and broccoli (CV 3.3%), lettuces (3.9%), barley (4.9%) and strawberries (6.5%) are Very stable; potatoes (11.0%), sugar beet (10.9%) and carrots (12.2%) are Moderately stable; and green maize (23.8%) is Volatile. As always with Eurostat series, check the flags (b = break, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional) before comparing years.
All values in 1 000 ha. The rye area series starts in 2025 (flag d), so no decade change is shown.
| Crop | 2025 area (1 000 ha) | Change since 2016 | Share of EU area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green maize | 1963.1 | -8.2% | 34.1% |
| Wheat and spelt | 2958.4 | -7.6% | 12.5% |
| Barley | 1523.0 | -5.1% | 15.3% |
| Rape and turnip rape seeds | 1094.9 | -17.4% | 18.1% |
| Rye | 530.1d | N/A | 32.8% |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 301.8 | +24.5% | 20.3% |
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 387.4 | +15.8% | 26.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most potatoes in the EU?
Germany. In 2025 it harvested 13.87 million tonnes (13 870.7 thousand tonnes) — 24.3% of EU production — ahead of France (10.20 million tonnes / 10 201.9 thousand tonnes) and the Netherlands (7.55 million tonnes / 7 550.8 thousand tonnes).
What vegetables does Germany lead the EU in?
Most of them: in the latest rankings Germany was the EU's number-one producer of asparagus (87.4% of EU output), radishes (75.0%), gherkins (70.0%), courgettes and marrows (66.2%), cabbages (65.6%), celery (58.5%), lettuces (58.2%), spinach (54.0%), cauliflower and broccoli (53.9%), strawberries (51.2%), endives (50.1%), carrots (50.0%) and beetroot (47.3%), plus hops (76.7%).
How much of the EU's rye does Germany grow?
40.9%. Germany's 2025 rye harvest was 3.03 million tonnes (3 034.9 thousand tonnes), well ahead of second-placed Poland (2.26 million tonnes / 2 264.7 thousand tonnes). The series carries Eurostat's definition-change flag d.
Are German harvests stable?
Remarkably, yes — especially in vegetables. Across 2016-2025, cauliflower and broccoli (CV 3.3%), lettuces (3.9%), barley (4.9%) and strawberries (6.5%) grade Very stable; potatoes (11.0%) and sugar beet (10.9%) are Moderately stable; green maize (23.8%) is Volatile after a decade-long slump.
Source data extracted from Eurostat dataset apro_cpsh1.
This article was generated using AI. The content is based on Eurostat data and is provided as a starting point — please verify all data with the original source.
