FRANKFURT, Nov 19 (Bernama-dpa) — China has once again replaced the United States as Germany’s top trading partner, with foreign trade turnover edging up 0.6 per cent year-on-year to €185.9 billion (US$215.4 billion) from January to September, according to data released on Wednesday, reported the German Press Agency (dpa).
This was mainly due to large imports from China, the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden stated.
Meanwhile, the trade volume with the US shrank by 3.9 per cent to €184.7 billion. China was Germany’s most important trading partner from 2016 to 2023, but was overtaken by the US in 2024.
From January to September, Germany’s exports to China fell by some 12 per cent to €61.4 billion — more sharply than exports to the US, which shrank by 7.8 per cent.
However, with an export volume of €112.7 billion, the US remained the main export country for German goods, as it has been since 2015 – despite the tariff dispute with US President Donald Trump.
China ranked only sixth in the list. Car exports to both the US and China slumped in particular.
However, imports from China rose sharply by 8.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2025, while US imports grew by just over two percentage points.
With imports worth €124.5 billion, China was by far the most important supplier country for Germany, well ahead of the Netherlands.
The US ranks third, with imports totalling almost €72 billion. Imports from China have risen particularly sharply so far this year, especially in electrical equipment, clothing and machinery.
Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is currently on a trip to China to promote cooperation with Beijing.
— BERNAMA-dpa