Agricultural producer prices rose by 2.4 percent in May 2025 compared to the same month in the previous year. This increase follows a rate of +3.2 percent in April and +1.6 percent in March, according to data released Monday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Month-over-month, agricultural producer prices increased by 0.5 percent in May.
Prices for both plant-based and animal products exhibited diverging trends in May, mirroring patterns observed in preceding months. Prices for plant-based products decreased by 10.8 percent compared to May 2024, while prices for animals and animal products rose by 11.6 percent. A similar trend was seen compared to the previous month, with plant-based products decreasing in price (-2.5 percent) and animal products increasing (+2.2 percent).
The 10.8 percent decrease in plant-based product prices year-over-year is partly attributable to significantly lower prices for potatoes, which were 41.3 percent lower than in May 2024. This followed declines of 40.0 percent in April and 38.4 percent in March. Potato prices also fell by 2.1 percent compared to the previous month.
Vegetable prices decreased by 6.6 percent over the annual period, notably influenced by lower prices for cauliflower (-27.2 percent), cucumbers (-14.4 percent) and lettuce (-13.4 percent). Certain vegetables, however, saw price increases, including asparagus and mushrooms, which rose by 9.4 percent and 5.2 percent respectively.
Fruit producer prices were 15.9 percent higher in May 2025 compared to the previous year. Table apples experienced a particularly significant price increase of +24.0 percent, while strawberries saw a slight decrease (-1.1 percent) compared to May 2024.
Grain prices were 0.7 percent lower compared to May 2024, a contrast to the +8.9 percent increase seen in April. Overall prices for commercial crops were 9.4 percent lower than in the same month last year, although rapeseed prices increased by 9.8 percent year-over-year. Prices for fodder crops continued their downward trend, decreasing by 14.4 percent compared to May 2024 (down from -11.7 percent in April). Wine prices increased by 1.5 percent.
The 11.6 percent increase in prices for animals and animal products year-over-year is largely due to rising milk prices, which were 17.9 percent higher than in May 2024 (up from +18.2 percent in April). Milk prices also increased slightly (+0.4 percent) compared to the previous month. Egg prices increased by +6.2 percent annually (+5.4 percent in April).
Prices for live animals were 7.8 percent higher than in May 2024, largely driven by a substantial increase in cattle prices (+41.6 percent). Slaughter pigs, however, saw a price decrease of 8.3 percent. Poultry prices were 10.2 percent higher than in May 2024, influenced by increases in chicken prices (+9.9 percent) and other poultry (ducks and turkeys) (+10.6 percent).
