Germany's exports to China declined sharply in the first half of 2026, causing its trade deficit with China to widen to 55 billion euros.

Foreign media: In the first half of 2026, Germany's exports to China declined by over 12% year-on-year to less than €37 billion, causing China to drop from Germany’s second-largest export market to the ninth; meanwhile, imports from China rose by 8.9% to €91.8 billion during the same period, and the trade deficit expanded from €40 billion to approximately €55 billion.

Germany's manufacturing sector is under dual pressure from U.S. tariffs and competition from China, forcing giants like Volkswagen to cut jobs.

Analysts attribute this trend primarily to China’s complete domestic industrial chain, rapid technological advancement, and increasing production capacity within China, all of which reflect China’s growing effort to reduce reliance on the West. Although total Sino-German trade remains above €128 billion—still ranking first—the "Made in Germany" brand urgently needs repositioning.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873058264359948/

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