Germany soybean cultivation expansion

German soybean cultivation more than tripled between 2016 and 2025. The planted area grew from 15,800 ha in 2016 to about 43,300 ha in 2025, a 174 % increase, and domestic harvest rose from 43,200 t to 130,800 t. Bavaria accounts for roughly half of the 2025 soybean area, with Baden‑Württemberg and Saxony‑Anhalt providing the remainder.

Despite the rapid expansion, imports remain the main source of soybeans. In 2025 Germany imported 3.4 million t, 8.4 % more than in 2016, with the United States supplying the bulk, followed by Brazil and Ukraine.

The 2026 data also note broader shifts in German arable farming: Brandenburg recorded a historic 32,000 ha of sunflower, rye acreage fell to a low of 120,800 ha, winter wheat area returned to 2019 levels at 164,500 ha, and maize stayed the dominant crop at about 182,600 ha. Soybean acreage in Brandenburg rose sharply from 670 ha in 2016 to over 3,200 ha in 2026, reflecting the nationwide move toward drought‑resilient crops.