Fair trade grows by 11% in Germany

Coffee and chocolate drove much of the growth despite high raw material prices. Per-capita spending averaged €31, placing Germany behind Switzerland, Austria and France.

Sales of Fairtrade-certified products increased by 13%, while revenues of the recognized Welthändler – fair trade importers and wholesalers that source directly from producers – grew by 9%. The country’s Weltläden, or “world shops” that specialize in selling fair trade products, managed to keep their sales stable despite difficult conditions in brick-and-mortar retail.

Forum chair Andrea Fütterer said fair trade stands for reliability in crises and for social and environmental responsibility in global supply chains. Managing director Matthias Fiedler added that the figures show continued demand for fair trade even amidst economic challenges.

The forum also warned that supply chain laws in Germany and the EU are under pressure. Many producers, particularly in the coffee sector, remain dependent on a few buyers and face unfair trading practices. They are calling for greater stability, higher sales through fair trade and recognition of their environmental and food security efforts.