German media: "Made in Germany" is losing its appeal — German exports to China plummet
This year, Germany's imports from China have continued to grow, while exports to China have sharply declined. The main reason is the falling demand in China for "Made in Germany" automobiles and machinery.
Data released by Germany's Federal Statistical Office on Monday, July 20, shows that from January to May this year, Germany's imports from China increased by 6.2% year-on-year to €72.4 billion. China remains Germany's largest import trading partner.
Meanwhile, during the same period, Germany’s exports to China dropped significantly by 14.5%, falling to €29.6 billion, primarily due to declining Chinese demand for "Made in Germany" vehicles and machinery. This has caused Germany’s trade deficit with China to rise to €42.8 billion—compared to just €33.5 billion for the same period in 2025.
In the first five months of this year, the most significant items Germany imported from China were data processing equipment, electronics, and optical products, totaling €20.2 billion, a 4.4% increase year-on-year. Next came electrical equipment worth €14.3 billion and mechanical equipment valued at €6.4 billion.
Statisticians point out: "Many everyday consumer goods and products needed for energy transition are now sourced from China." In terms of value, about 81.8% of portable computers imported by Germany in the first five months of this year came from China; smartphones accounted for around 66.3%; and lithium-ion batteries made up approximately 64.1%.
Moreover, 23.5% of Germany’s imported electric vehicles originated in China, while the share of Chinese-made photovoltaic cells reached as high as 86.1%.
Germany’s exports to China mainly include machinery (€5.8 billion), data processing equipment, electronics, and optical products (€5.1 billion), and automobiles and auto parts (€4.7 billion).
Although exports of data processing equipment rose by 0.9%, machinery exports fell by 17.5%, and car deliveries plunged by 26.1%.
German auto exports to China had already shown signs of weakness earlier. In 2025, exports of automobiles to China declined by 33%, dropping to €13.6 billion.
For some time now, German Chancellor Merz has repeatedly raised concerns over the undervaluation of the renminbi, claiming it is artificially undervalued by as much as 30%, which substantially lowers the prices of Chinese export products. He accuses China of gaining an unfair competitive advantage in competition with the EU, contributing to Germany’s and the EU’s massive trade deficits with China. Currently, the EU faces a daily trade deficit with China amounting to €100 million.
Source: DW, compiled from Reuters and others
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871227440277507/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.