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Germany trade in 2024

In 2024, Germany exported $1.5 trillion and imported $1.3 trillion, a trade surplus of $184.5 billion. It was the world's 3rd-largest exporter, with 6.6% of world exports. Its top export was cars (11.1% of the total) and its main trading partner was China (9% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$1.5trillion
Imports
$1.3trillion
Trade balance
+$184.5billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Cars (11.1%) and auto parts (4.3%) together make up 15.4% of its exports.

  1. Cars$166.8 billion · 11.1%
    Main partner: United States
  2. Auto parts$64.3 billion · 4.3%
    Main partner: China
  3. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$64.1 billion · 4.3%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Vaccines, blood and antisera$44.3 billion · 2.9%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Other industrial machines$24.5 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: United States
  6. Airplanes and helicopters$23.6 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Refined petroleum$21.3 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  8. Other plastic articles$18.7 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: China
  9. Medical and dental instruments$18.2 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Microchips$16.9 billion · 1.1%
    Main partner: Taiwan

What it imports

Cars (5.3%) and auto parts (3.5%) together make up 8.8% of its imports.

  1. Cars$70.4 billion · 5.3%
    Main partner: Spain
  2. Auto parts$46 billion · 3.5%
    Main partner: Poland
  3. Crude petroleum$41.6 billion · 3.2%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Vaccines, blood and antisera$37.5 billion · 2.8%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$32.7 billion · 2.5%
    Main partner: Ireland
  6. Cameras and broadcast equipment$27.4 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: China
  7. Natural gas and LPG$26.2 billion · 2%
    Main partner: Norway
  8. Batteries$26.1 billion · 2%
    Main partner: China
  9. Refined petroleum$25.4 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  10. Computers$23.9 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: China
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
87 · Vehicles$275.7 billion$141.3 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$251.4 billion$167.5 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$150.9 billion$196.6 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$113.7 billion$74.2 billion
39 · Plastics$78.6 billion$49.2 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$77.3 billion$47.4 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$33.5 billion$15.6 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$32 billion$25 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$31.1 billion$107.6 billion
72 · Iron and steel$29.9 billion$24.7 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$28.4 billion$38.3 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$24.8 billion$18.3 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$23.4 billion$15.1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$21.4 billion$13.8 billion
76 · Aluminum$17 billion$19.8 billion
40 · Rubber$15.7 billion$16.4 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$15.1 billion$22.1 billion
74 · Copper$14.7 billion$12.3 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$13.3 billion$11.3 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$11.9 billion$8 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$11.6 billion$5.6 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$11.4 billion$9.2 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$10.2 billion$6.9 billion
44 · Wood$9.9 billion$7.7 billion
21 · Food preparations$9.6 billion$5.8 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$9.4 billion$8.4 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$9.2 billion$5.5 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$9.1 billion$5.9 billion
02 · Meat and offal$8 billion$7.7 billion
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$7.8 billion$5.7 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$7.4 billion$21.3 billion
70 · Glass$7.1 billion$5.8 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$6.7 billion$8.6 billion
62 · Woven clothing$6.6 billion$19.4 billion
64 · Footwear$6.5 billion$13.2 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$6.5 billion$5.6 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$5 billion$3.4 billion
15 · Fats and oils$4.9 billion$5.7 billion
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$4.9 billion$2.9 billion
86 · Railway equipment$4.4 billion$3.7 billion
89 · Ships and boats$4.4 billion$5.2 billion
17 · Sugar and sweets$4 billion$2.4 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$3.9 billion$8.1 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$3.8 billion$6.7 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$3.7 billion$3.7 billion
49 · Books and printed matter$3.6 billion$2.6 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$3.5 billion$6.2 billion
24 · Tobacco$3.4 billion$5.3 billion
69 · Ceramics$3.3 billion$2.8 billion
10 · Cereals$3.1 billion$3.8 billion
31 · Fertilizers$3 billion$1.5 billion
08 · Fruit and nuts$2.7 billion$11.8 billion
96 · Other manufactured goods$2.6 billion$2.5 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$2.6 billion$1.9 billion
59 · Coated and technical textiles$2.5 billion$1.2 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$2.5 billion$4.8 billion
07 · Vegetables$2.5 billion$7.9 billion
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$2.4 billion$1.7 billion
11 · Milling products and malt$2.3 billion$965 million
75 · Nickel$2.1 billion$2.1 billion
42 · Leather goods and bags$2 billion$5 billion
12 · Oilseeds and grains$1.9 billion$6.3 billion
01 · Live animals$1.8 billion$1.7 billion
81 · Other base metals$1.8 billion$2.5 billion
97 · Art and antiques$1.7 billion$864 million
26 · Ores and slag$1.6 billion$10.8 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$1.4 billion$2.8 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$1.3 billion$4.2 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$1.3 billion$1.3 billion
47 · Wood pulp$1.3 billion$3.6 billion
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$1.3 billion$1.3 billion
06 · Live plants and flowers$1 billion$3.1 billion
37 · Photographic goods$995 million$658 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$966 million$617 million
05 · Other animal products$830 million$1 billion
79 · Zinc$797 million$1.2 billion
92 · Musical instruments$657 million$754 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$645 million$667 million
41 · Hides and leather$549 million$463 million
52 · Cotton$540 million$626 million
60 · Knitted fabric$528 million$394 million
78 · Lead$499 million$587 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$476 million$1.1 billion
58 · Special fabrics and lace$466 million$270 million
65 · Hats$430 million$1 billion
36 · Explosives and matches$392 million$419 million
51 · Wool$273 million$438 million
80 · Tin$166 million$447 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$86 million$314 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$77 million$251 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$43 million$102 million
53 · Other plant fibers$39 million$89 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$35 million$166 million
45 · Cork$29 million$90 million
14 · Other plant products$18 million$40 million
50 · Silk$18 million$49 million

Trading partners

Its main destination is the United States (10.4% of exports) and its main source is China (12.2% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States15610.4%Sea
Netherlands1026.8%Land
France1016.7%Land
China92.56.1%Air
Italy845.6%Sea
Poland78.85.2%Land
United Kingdom76.45.1%Sea
Switzerland67.84.5%Land
Austria66.74.4%Land
Belgium51.53.4%Land

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China16112.2%Sea
Netherlands91.46.9%Land
United States90.46.8%Air
Poland82.56.3%Land
France70.35.3%Land
Italy66.15%Sea
Czechia63.94.8%Land
Switzerland52.84%Land
Belgium52.24%Land
Austria50.93.9%Land

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Germany accounted for 6.6% of world exports, compared with 9.7% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports tripled since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 1,506
  • Imports 1,321
  • Balance +185

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$493.7 billion$441.6 billion$52.1 billion
1996$497.7 billion$440.6 billion$57.1 billion
1997$496.5 billion$423.4 billion$73.1 billion
1998$523.6 billion$455.6 billion$67.9 billion
1999$526.6 billion$452.5 billion$74.1 billion
2000$535.2 billion$457.2 billion$77.9 billion
2001$557.1 billion$472.7 billion$84.4 billion
2002$604.4 billion$478.3 billion$126.1 billion
2003$718.4 billion$554.1 billion$164.3 billion
2004$861.6 billion$649.2 billion$212.4 billion
2005$937.5 billion$740.7 billion$196.8 billion
2006$1.1 trillion$849.8 billion$210.4 billion
2007$1.2 trillion$938.7 billion$291.3 billion
2008$1.4 trillion$1.1 trillion$275.8 billion
2009$1 trillion$852.4 billion$193 billion
2010$1.2 trillion$977.3 billion$201.7 billion
2011$1.4 trillion$1.2 trillion$225.2 billion
2012$1.3 trillion$1.1 trillion$250 billion
2013$1.4 trillion$1.1 trillion$254.7 billion
2014$1.4 trillion$1.1 trillion$269.3 billion
2015$1.2 trillion$989.4 billion$254.2 billion
2016$1.2 trillion$987.6 billion$259.8 billion
2017$1.3 trillion$1.1 trillion$253.3 billion
2018$1.5 trillion$1.2 trillion$259.5 billion
2019$1.4 trillion$1.1 trillion$244.6 billion
2020$1.3 trillion$1.1 trillion$195.7 billion
2021$1.5 trillion$1.3 trillion$182.7 billion
2022$1.5 trillion$1.5 trillion$30.3 billion
2023$1.6 trillion$1.4 trillion$158 billion
2024$1.5 trillion$1.3 trillion$184.5 billion

World rank

Germany fell from 2nd to 3rd among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 2nd in 1995
  • 3rd in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
19952nd
19962nd
19972nd
19982nd
19992nd
20002nd
20012nd
20022nd
20032nd
20041st
20052nd
20062nd
20072nd
20082nd
20092nd
20103rd
20113rd
20123rd
20133rd
20143rd
20153rd
20163rd
20173rd
20183rd
20193rd
20203rd
20213rd
20223rd
20233rd
20243rd

What it sells

Vehicles became its top export group: from 16% to 18%

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 33%
  • Iron and steel products 2%
  • Aircraft and spacecraft 2%
  • Precision and medical instruments 5%
  • Plastics 5%
  • Pharmaceuticals 8%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 10%
  • Mechanical machinery 17%
  • Vehicles 18%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Vehicles16.4%18.3%
Mechanical machinery20%16.7%
Electrical and electronic equipment10.7%10%
Pharmaceuticals1.8%7.6%
Plastics5.1%5.2%
Precision and medical instruments3.8%5.1%
Aircraft and spacecraft1.1%2.2%
Iron and steel products2.3%2.1%
Other39%32.7%

Who it trades with

China went from 2% to 9% of Germany's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • China 9%
  • United States 9%
  • Netherlands 7%
  • France 6%
  • Poland 6%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
China1.9%9%
United States7%8.7%
Netherlands7.9%6.8%
France10.9%6.1%
Poland1.8%5.7%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • ThyssenKrupp Steel Duisburg steel plantSteel · 13.4 Mt CO₂e
  • Boxberg power stationPower · 12.5 Mt CO₂e
  • Neurath power stationPower · 10.3 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Essen$871 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Stuttgart$496.8 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Frankfurt$493 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries