German Exports to China Drop Over 12% to €37 Billion as Trade Deficit Widens to €55 Billion
Updated
Updated · Global Times · Aug 9
German Exports to China Drop Over 12% to €37 Billion as Trade Deficit Widens to €55 Billion
3 articles · Updated · Global Times · Aug 9
Summary
Germany shipped just under €37 billion of goods to China in the first half of 2026, down more than 12% from a year earlier, while imports from China rose 8.9% to €91.8 billion.
The shift reflects weaker Chinese demand for some German industrial goods, more local production by German companies in China, and China’s push into higher-value manufacturing that is replacing some imports.
That drove Germany’s trade deficit with China to about €55 billion from €40 billion a year earlier, even as total bilateral trade still exceeded €128 billion in the half.
China remained Germany’s top trading partner in 2025, and German companies are still expanding there through investment, R&D and 'China for China' production—backed by more than €7 billion invested in the first 11 months of 2025.