Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €38.9bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Wholesalers are struggling with a grain shortage
- According to the German Farmers' Association, the grain harvest in Germany in 2024 was well below expectations at 39.3 million tonnes and fell short of the target of 40 million tonnes. This continues the downward trend that has been ongoing for ten years. In 2023, the harvest volume was still around 42 million tonnes. In Germany, the quantity and quality of the grain was negatively impacted by repeated and, in places, very heavy rainfall.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Biofuels and organic animal feed are gaining in importance
- The demand for sustainable resources for biofuels and organic products - both oil-bearing plants such as rapeseed and starchy plants such as cereals - is constantly increasing. These raw materials are predominantly grown in Germany or Europe. The wholesale trade in grain, seed and animal feed in Germany is likely to benefit considerably from this increasing demand. The growing popularity of organic products in particular is creating greater sales opportunities, as organic feed is essential for the production of organic meat.
Biggest companies in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
BayWa AG | 5,420.0 | |
Agravis Raiffeisen AG | 2,902.0 | |
Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG | 1,365.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cereals, Animal feed and products for animal feed and Seeds. Cereals is the largest segment of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in Germany.
Trends and Insights
Cereals are in high demand as a staple food and animal feed
- Grain comprises the grains of the most important cereals in Germany. These include wheat, followed by barley, maize, rye and oats.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry players in the wholesale trade of animal feed, grain, raw tobacco, oil fruits such as olives and seeds act as a link between producers and retailers, wholesalers and other traders. They are primarily involved in agricultural trade, which often includes other inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides that are not part of this sector.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany include Cereals, Animal feed and products for animal feed, Seeds, Oil fruits and Raw tobacco.Companies
Companies covered in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany include BayWa AG, Agravis Raiffeisen AG and Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG.Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany include gluten, commodity futures trading and oil fruit.Industry Code
WZ 46.21 - Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The livestock population is being reduced, which will reduce the demand for animal feed in the long term. The reason for this is increasing health awareness, which is accompa...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Grain is the most important industry product. The turnover generated by the wholesale grain trade fluctuates greatly from year to year. They depend on weather conditions and ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
There are many farms in the south of Germany and therefore many customers for industry products. This is why many grain wholesalers have also settled in the region.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Online retail is intensifying competition. The increasing use of online retail is increasing price transparency and thus the pressure on product prices.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The industry has two main players, BayWa AG and Agravis Raiffeisen AG. The remaining industry participants are rather small companies.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of BayWa AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Agravis Raiffeisen AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for BayWa AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Agravis Raiffeisen AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Fertiliser prices are likely to fall in 2025. This will have a positive effect on the demand for fertilisers.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The wholesale trade in grain, seed and animal feed has low profit margins. However, profit margins can fluctuate depending on the size of the company.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?
The market size of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany is €38.9bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 1,801 businesses in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany are BayWa AG, Agravis Raiffeisen AG and Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG
What does the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany include?
Cereals and Animal feed and products for animal feed are part of the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany is BayWa AG.
How competitive is the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling industry in Germany.
Related Industries
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Competitors
Complementors
View all industries in Germany
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
