German Media: German Exports to China Plunge 12.5% in First Quarter

In the first quarter of this year, China remained Germany’s largest trading partner, with trade volume surpassing that of the United States. However, during the same period, Germany’s exports to China continued to decline.

The total merchandise trade between Germany and China in the first three months reached €61.5 billion. This figure was calculated by Reuters and the German Trade & Investment Agency (GTAI) based on preliminary data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. The United States ranked second with €60 billion in trade volume, followed closely by the Netherlands at €52.8 billion. China had only recently surpassed the United States to become Germany’s top trading partner last year.

"However, the gap between the two is extremely narrow—only about €1.5 billion," said Christina Otte, an expert at the German Trade & Investment Agency, commenting on trade data for the first quarter. "Over time, the United States could very likely overtake China again."

Meanwhile, Germany’s exports to China have been consistently declining. In the first quarter, exports to China plunged by 12.5%, dropping to €18 billion. As a result, despite being the world’s second-largest economy, China has now fallen to ninth place among Germany’s most important export markets for goods. "Given this trend, China could even fall out of the top ten when annual figures are considered," Otte stated.

She expects this downward trend in exports to persist through the remainder of the year. At the same time, geopolitical crises such as the conflict involving Iran are negatively affecting demand. Moreover, many companies are increasingly shifting their production activities targeting the Chinese market to local factories within China itself.

Surge in Imports from China

In stark contrast, the volume of goods exported by China to Germany is on the rise: In the first quarter, Germany’s imports from China totaled €43.5 billion, representing a 6.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Otte said: "As a source of imports for Germany, China is expected to grow even more significant in the coming months, especially as Chinese exporters—such as electric vehicle manufacturers—stand to benefit from Germany’s newly introduced EV subsidy policy."

In the first three months of this year, Germany’s exports to the United States fell sharply by 12% compared to the same period last year—an almost identical drop to that seen in exports to China. Nevertheless, the United States remains unquestionably the largest buyer of “Made in Germany” goods, with procurement totaling over €36 billion. France ranked second with €31.4 billion in purchases, ahead of the Netherlands, which recorded €29.1 billion in purchases.

Looking ahead to the full year of 2026, Otte forecasts that Germany’s exports to the United States will decline by 5% to 7%.

Source: DW

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865756640914432/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.