Overview
- The Federal Statistical Office’s first harvest estimate for 2026 puts total sweet and sour cherry production at about 51,100 tonnes, roughly 8.5% higher than 2025 and 13.5% above the 2016–2025 average.
- Sweet cherries are expected to lead the gain with about 40,300 tonnes, roughly 20.5% above the ten‑year average and broadly higher than last year.
- Sour cherries are forecast at about 10,800 tonnes, up nearly 9.6% year‑on‑year but about 6.8% below the ten‑year average because planted area for sour cherries has fallen about 25.2% since 2016.
- Production is concentrated regionally with Baden‑Württemberg the main sweet‑cherry state (about 19,200 tonnes on roughly 2,600 hectares) and Rheinland‑Pfalz the largest sour‑cherry producer (about 3,100 tonnes on roughly 450 hectares).
- These figures are preliminary, based on a June cut‑off and the 2022 tree‑fruit area survey with some state updates, so changes from weather, pests or later sampling could alter yields and market availability before the final August estimate.