China has again overtaken the USA as Germany’s most important trading partner. Foreign trade turnover with China rose slightly by 0.6 percent compared to the same period last year to 185.9 billion euros from January to September thanks to large imports from the People’s Republic, as the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced. At the same time, the trade volume with the USA shrank by 3.9 percent to 184.7 billion euros. China was Germany’s most important trading partner from 2016 to 2023 and was pushed out of first place by the United States in 2024.
Despite the tariff dispute: USA leads in exports
From January to September, Germany’s exports to China fell by a good 12 percent to 61.4 billion euros, more sharply than exports to the USA, which fell by 7.8 percent. With an export volume of 112.7 billion euros, the USA remained the most important export country for German goods, as it has been since 2015 – despite the customs dispute with US President Donald Trump. China was only in 6th place in the rankings. Car exports in particular to both the USA and China collapsed.
Imports from China are rising sharply
However, imports from China rose sharply by 8.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025, while imports from the United States only increased by a good two percent. This made the People’s Republic of China the most important supplier country for Germany, far ahead of the Netherlands, with imports amounting to 124.5 billion euros.
The USA comes in third place with imports of almost 72 billion euros. Imports from China have risen particularly sharply in the year to date for electrical equipment, clothing and machinery. Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD) is currently on a trip to China promoting cooperation with Beijing.