Overview
- German imports from China are projected to rise by more than 6% to about €167 billion in 2025 as exports fall by over 11% to roughly €80 billion.
- The shortfall would be about €20 billion larger than in 2024 and would surpass the previous record deficit of around €84 billion set in 2022.
- China is poised to drop to sixth place among German export destinations, according to GTAI.
- Import growth is concentrated in electrotechnics (+€2.2 billion from January to August), textiles and clothing (+€1.5 billion), and machinery (+€1.2 billion), with batteries and consumer electronics among the strongest movers.
- GTAI points to diverted Chinese shipments toward Europe after US tariff actions, noting January–September Chinese exports fell 17% to the US but rose 8% to Europe and 11% to Germany.