Overview
- Total trade with China reached €185.9 billion in January–September 2025, edging the United States at €184.7 billion, with China up 0.6% and the U.S. down 3.9%.
- Imports from China rose 8.5% to €124.5 billion, cementing China as Germany’s largest supplier; imports from the U.S. increased 2.8% to €71.9 billion, ranking third.
- German exports fell 12.3% to €61.4 billion for China and 7.8% to €112.7 billion for the U.S., with the United States remaining Germany’s top export destination since 2015.
- Auto exports slumped sharply, down 35.9% to China (€10.9 billion) and 13.9% to the U.S. (€22.4 billion), alongside declines in machinery and electrical equipment shipments to China.
- Chinese shipments to Germany grew notably in electrical equipment (+14.7% to €24.2 billion), clothing (+20.6% to €7.1 billion) and machinery (+12.4% to €10.6 billion), which analysts partly attribute to U.S. trade policy and redirected Chinese exports.