Opportunities for U.S. Organic Exporters in Germany

December 30, 1999

U.S. organic product exporters have opportunities to sell "uniquely American items" in Germany. A USDA report says items that already are familiar to German consumers are the "best prospects."

Organic food sales in Germany are estimated at $2 billion for 1998 or about 2% of the total food market. Opinion polls indicate that the average consumer is becoming more interested in organic food, but the demand is dampened somewhat by confusing labels, high prices, limited availability in mainstream markets compared to other western European countries and limited variety, says the report.

Germany produces a wide variety of organic commodities that include milk, wheat, rye, oats, potatoes and other vegetables, beef, oilseeds, pulses, fruit and wine. About half the organically farmed land is devoted to field crops and the rest to grass and pasture.

Italy and Spain are Germany's leading import suppliers of organic products, and the United States is the largest non-European Union importer. Increasingly, organic commodities and products from China, Latin America and Central European countries, such as Poland and Hungary, are finding their way into Germany.

Best prospects for U.S. exporters of organic products include uniquely American items that already are familiar to consumers of non-organic foods, as well as dried fruit, nuts, wine, rice, sports drinks and supplements.

The full report is included in the printed copy of World Horticultural Trade & U.S. Export Opportunities, January 2000. The cover page is available on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/circular/2000/00-01/coverpage.htm.