Außenhandel: China bleibt Deutschlands Top-Handelspartner

In the first half of 2026, China continued to hold the title of Germany's top trading partner. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the combined volume of imports and exports with the People's Republic reached €125.5 billion from January to June. This positioned China ahead of the United States (€123.7 billion) and the Netherlands (€109.3 billion).

China had already been Germany's main trading partner from 2016 to 2023 and reclaimed the top spot in 2024 from the United States. Despite higher tariffs, German exporters still faced challenges in the U.S. market, as the Trump administration's trade policies dampened business activity. In the first half of 2026, the United States remained Germany's largest market for exports, with German "made in Germany" goods valued at €73.1 billion being delivered there.

However, this was a 6.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Notably, there were significant declines in vehicle and vehicle parts exports (17.2%). France maintained its second-place position in terms of importance for German exports, with €63.2 billion worth of goods shipped to the country, followed by the Netherlands (€60.5 billion).

China's products dominated Germany's imports, with a value of €89.1 billion in the first half of the year, far surpassing the United States (€50.6 billion) and the Netherlands (€48.9 billion). Overall, German-produced goods were worth €817.8 billion in the first half of 2026, representing nearly a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

This figure included a surge in exports of automobiles, machinery, optics, and chemical products. These figures were reported by Wiesbaden statisticians on seasonally adjusted basis in early August.