Spices and Herbs

available in Germany. Fresh herbs are becoming popular, but these still take a small
market share as shown in figure 4.6.
Figure 4.6 Market shares of spices and herbs in Germany, 1997
ECU million (per cent of total market)
Fresh and
frozen herbs
13 (5%)
Single spices
and herbs
158 (60%)
263
Ready-to-use
mixtures
92 (35%)
Dynamik im Handel 1998
Source: Euromonitor 1998,
In the distribution of spices and herbs, supermarkets account for approximately 50 per cent
of retail sales. In-store promotions on international themes, such as a “Mexican week” or a
“Chinese week”, are organised increasingly more often. Almost 20 per cent of total sales
occur in discount stores, whose numbers are still growing in Germany; 14 per cent is sold
in small supermarkets and the remaining 16 per cent in delicatessen stores or in other retail
outlets.
Germany is a major trader, processor and re-exporter of spices. Hamburg, along with New
York, Rotterdam, Singapore and London, is one of the key world trading centres. Germany
imports about three-quarters of its spice requirements directly from the countries of origin.
In 1997, 70 per cent of imports were sourced outside the EU and 45 per cent of total
German imports came from developing countries. Germany is the largest EU importer of
pepper (26 per cent of total EU imports in 1997) and also of mace, anise, caraway and
fennel seeds, juniper berries and thyme. Imports of paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg,
cardamoms, coriander seed, turmeric and spice mixtures were also very significant.
Between 1995 and 1997 German imports increased by 12 per cent, mainly because of a
high demand for pepper, paprika, caraway and nutmeg. In 1997, coriander, cinnamon,
thyme, bay leaves and other spices were more in demand, whereas ginger, spice mixtures
and curries were less in demand. In the same period imports of the other product groups
showed a fluctuating pattern.
For all spices together, the main suppliers to Germany are Indonesia, Brazil, India, China,
Turkey and Hungary. An overview of German imports by product group is given in
table 4.6.
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