China once again Germany's most important trading partner in 2026

Germany's Trading Partners China Remains the Top Trading Partner for Germany

2026-08-21 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

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China was able to maintain its position as Germany's most important trading partner in the first half of 2026, as reported by dpa from the Federal Statistical Office...

The Federal Statistical Office has taken a closer look at the first half of 2026 in terms of trade. Among other findings, it revealed that China is once again Germany's top trading partner...(Image: AI-generated) — The Federal Statistical Office has taken a closer look at the first half of 2026 in terms of trade. Among other findings, it revealed that China is once again Germany's top trading partner...
(Image: AI-generated)

The volume of imports and exports in trade with the People's Republic amounted to 125.5 billion euros (approx. 138 billion USD) for Germany from January to June, according to calculations by the Federal Statistical Office. This placed China ahead of the USA (123.7 billion euros / approx. 136 billion USD) and the Netherlands (109.3 billion / approx. 120 billion USD). Incidentally, China was already Germany's most important trading partner from 2016 to 2023 and was only overtaken by the USA in 2024. However, last year, China regained the top spot.

The USA Remains Germany's Most Important Sales Market

However, Germany's exporters cannot avoid the U.S. market, it is noted—even though the tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump have slowed the business of German companies from a monetary perspective. As in previous years, the United States was once again the most important destination for German exports in the first half of 2026. Goods worth 73.1 billion euros (approx. 80.4 billion USD) "Made in Germany" were delivered to the U.S. This was, however, 6.1 percent less than in the same period of the previous year, as analyses reveal. Significant declines were seen once again primarily in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts (minus 17.2 percent). France remains in second place among the most important German export destinations (63.2 billion euros / approx. 69.5 billion USD), followed by the Netherlands (60.5 billion euros / approx. 66.5 billion USD). In this regard, China ranks only ninth with 36.4 billion euros (approx. 40 billion USD)..

Chinese Products Dominate the Import Spectrum

In contrast, Chinese products have held the largest share of imports to Germany for years, as the office has found. With an import volume of 89.1 billion euros (approx. 98 billion USD), China was by far the most important supplier country for Germany in the first half of the current year—ahead of the USA (50.6 billion euros / approx. 55.6 billion USD) and the Netherlands (48.9 billion euros / approx. 53.8 billion USD). Overall, goods produced in Germany worth 817.8 billion euros (approx. 899.5 billion USD) were exported worldwide on a nominal basis in the first half of 2026—almost four percent more than a year earlier! Cars, machinery, optics, and chemical products are particularly popular. Statisticians had already reported this magnitude on a seasonally adjusted basis at the beginning of August.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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