Germany’s trade relations saw a significant shift in 2025 as China once again surpassed the United States to become the country’s most important trading partner. New data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) shows that China’s trade volume with Germany grew slightly in the first nine months of the year, while trade with the United States declined. The development marks a return to the trend seen between 2016 and 2023, before the U.S. briefly overtook China in 2024. The latest figures also reveal pronounced weaknesses in German export performance, particularly in the automotive and machinery sectors, alongside a notable increase in imports from both major economies.
Between January and September 2025, the foreign trade volume between Germany and China reached 185.9 billion euros, slightly exceeding the 184.7 billion euros recorded with the United States. While the increase in trade with China amounted to 0.6% compared to the previous year, the trade volume with the United States fell by 3.9% in the same period. China had held the top position from 2016 to 2023 until being overtaken in 2024, and its return to the lead reflects changing global trade dynamics as German industries navigate shifting demand and supply patterns.
Exports from Germany to China and the United States both decreased significantly, though the decline was considerably steeper in the Chinese market. German exports to China fell by 12.3% to a total of 61.4 billion euros, whereas exports to the United States declined by 7.8% to 112.7 billion euros. Despite the contraction, the United States remained Germany’s most important export destination, a position it has held since 2015, while China ranked sixth among Germany’s export markets. The data highlights a growing export imbalance, driven in part by weakening demand for German-made vehicles and machinery in both countries.
In contrast to falling exports, imports from both China and the United States increased during the first nine months of 2025. Imports from China rose by 8.5% to 124.5 billion euros, making China Germany’s largest supplier by a wide margin ahead of the Netherlands. Imports from the United States increased by 2.8% to 71.9 billion euros, placing the U.S. third among Germany’s largest import sources. The rise in imports from both countries reflects continued reliance on foreign goods in key sectors, particularly electronics, machinery, and high-value industrial components.
Germany’s automotive and industrial sectors experienced some of the most pronounced export declines. Exports of motor vehicles and vehicle parts to China dropped by 6.1 billion euros, a 35.9% decrease, bringing the total to 10.9 billion euros. Exports to the United States also fell sharply, decreasing by 13.9% to 22.4 billion euros. Machinery exports to China declined by 10.7% to 12.6 billion euros, and exports of electrical equipment fell by 13.2% to 8.3 billion euros. In the United States, significant declines were recorded in “other vehicles,” mainly aircraft, which fell by 44.3% to 4.0 billion euros, while machinery exports dropped by 9.5% to 19.7 billion euros. These declines underline the pressures facing Germany’s export-heavy industrial sectors.
The largest increases in German imports from China occurred in electrical equipment, which rose by 14.7% to 24.2 billion euros. Imports of clothing increased by 20.6% to 7.1 billion euros, and machinery imports grew by 12.4% to 10.6 billion euros. The United States also recorded strong import growth to Germany, led by aircraft and other vehicles, which rose by 25.9% to 9.3 billion euros. Pharmaceutical imports increased by 11.6% to 11.5 billion euros, and metal imports surged by 49.4% to 2.1 billion euros. Together, these figures highlight the continued strength of Germany’s demand for advanced, specialized, and consumer goods from both major trading partners.
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