According to the Ministry of Agriculture, last year agricultural exports were values at a record €61 billion - a rise of €6 billion on the previous year.

And agriculture minister Dr Gerd Müller said the outlook for the current year is positive.

The good results have been because of high prices, but export volumes have been falling in some key areas, according to Dr Müller.

The main destinations for German exports were the Netherlands that took 14 per cent of the goods, Italy with 10 per cent and France with 9.6 per cent. Germany exports around 78 per cent of its agricultural products within the EU.

The main destinations outside of the EU were Russia, Switzerland and the US.

"The main target countries for German agricultural exports are mainly the EU's partner countries, other developed countries or emerging economies and not just developing countries," said State Secretary Müller.

He added that because of the change in the Common Agricultural Policy away from export subsidies to a more market oriented policy subsidies have fallen from €10.4 billion in 1993 to €164 million last year.

Dr Müller said: "These figures show a clear trend: export subsidies no longer fit into our time and are basically eliminated."