Meat production in Germany has risen again in the first half of this year
Germany's meat production increased in the first half of this year. Abattoirs produced 3.4 million tons of meat, up 1.3 percent from the same period last year, according to preliminary figures released by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Wednesday. For the first time since 2016, more pigs were slaughtered, with the quantity increasing by 1.1 percent to 2.1 million tons.
In total, around 22 million pigs, 1.5 million cattle, and approximately 344 million chickens, turkeys, and ducks were slaughtered in Germany between January and June. Pig meat accounted for the largest share of the produced meat in Germany at 62 percent. Poultry meat was at 23 percent, and beef was at 14.6 percent.
Germany's meat production reached its peak in 2016. In the following years, the values initially decreased slightly, with a significant drop of 8.1 percent in 2022. Last year, meat production decreased by four percent again. The main reasons are changing eating habits, increased health and environmental awareness, and more plant-based alternatives to meat.
The percentage increase in meat production from the first half of last year to this year was 1.3%. Despite the decrease in meat production in recent years, pig meat still constitutes 62% of the total produced meat in Germany.
