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From a continental perspective, two-thirds (66.1%) of German exports by value were delivered to fellow European countries while 18.1% were sold to Asian importers. Germany shipped another 10.4% worth of goods to North America. Smaller percentages went to customers in Africa (1.7%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia.
Given Germany’s population of 80.5 million people, its total $1.557 trillion in 2018 exports translates to roughly $19,400 for every resident in the European economic hub.
In macroeconomic terms, Germany’s total exported goods represent 35.7% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2018 ($4.356 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 35.7% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2018 compares to 41% for 2014, seeming to indicate a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for Germany’s total economic performance. And while this article focuses on exported goods, it is interesting to note that Germany also provided $331.2 billion worth of exports-related services to global customers for an additional 7.6% of GDP in PPP.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. Germany’s unemployment rate was 3.2% as of April 2019 — a historic 39-year low as reported by Trading Economics.
Germany’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in German global shipments during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Germany.
- Machinery including computers: US$271.7 billion (17.5% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $263.7 billion (16.9%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $163.8 billion (10.5%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $96.8 billion (6.2%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $80 billion (5.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $68.1 billion (4.4%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $41.4 billion (2.7%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $33.6 billion (2.2%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $33.4 billion (2.1%)
- Iron, steel: $29.2 billion (1.9%)
Germany’s top 10 exports accounted for over two-thirds (69.5%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Pharmaceuticals represent the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories, up 14.6% from 2017 to 2018.
In second place for improving export sales was the iron or steel materials category which gained 10.6% in value.
Machinery including computers appreciated by 10.4% year over year, trailed by the articles made from iron or steel category up 9.9%.
One top category declined, namely aircraft or spacecraft thanks to its modest -0.9% retreat.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Germany’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Advantages
Overall, Germany posted a trade surplus equal to $270 billion in 2018. That dollar amount of black ink represents a -2.4% downtick from the $276.6-billion surplus one year earlier.
The following types of German product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus for 2018. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. In a nutshell, net exports reflect the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Vehicles: US$132.6 billion (Down by -0.8% since 2017)
- Machinery including computers: $106.2 billion (Up by 10.8%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $38.9 billion (Up by 27.6%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $35.7 billion (Up by 10.3%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $24.5 billion (Up by 0.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $19 billion (Down by -0.6%)
- Other chemical goods: $10.5 billion (Up by 1.9%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $8 billion (Up by 11.3%)
- Paper, paper items: $7.1 billion (Up by 14.5%)
- Tanning, dyes, paints, varnishes, ink: $6.5 billion (Up by 7%)
Germany has highly positive net exports in the international trade of cars and automotive parts. In turn, these cashflows indicate Germany’s strong competitive advantages and engineering excellence under the vehicles product category.
Opportunities
Below are exports from Germany that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Germany’s goods trail German importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$84.6 billion (Up by 22% since 2017)
- Organic chemicals: -$19.5 billion (Up by 112.5%)
- Fruits, nuts: -$9.7 billion (Up by 8.8%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$9.1 billion (Up by 0.6%)
- Ores, slag, ash: -$8.5 billion (Up by 8.7%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$7.4 billion (Down by -4.7%)
- Vegetables: -$5.9 billion (Up by 5.1%)
- Gems, precious metals: -$5.2 billion (Up by 27.3%)
- Footwear: -$4.7 billion (Down by -3.7%)
- Oil seeds: -$4.6 billion (Up by 5.5%)
Germany has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits, in particular, for both crude oil and refined petroleum oils.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Germany’s competitive disadvantages in the international oil market, but also represent key opportunities for Germany to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations in alternative energy sources.
Companies
German Export Companies
Over fifty German corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a selected sample of major German export companies:
- Adidas (apparel/accessories)
- Allianz (diversified insurance)
- BASF (diversified chemicals)
- Bayer (diversified chemicals)
- BMW Group (cars, trucks)
- Continental (automotive parts)
- Daimler (cars, trucks)
- Fresenius (medical equipment, supplies)
- Heidelberg Cement (construction materials)
- Henkel (household/personal care items)
- Linde (diversified chemicals)
- Merck (pharmaceuticals)
- Siemens (conglomerate, engineering)
- Volkswagen Group (cars, trucks)
Searchable List of Germany’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, Germany’s top export products are cars followed by automotive parts and accessories then therapeutic or prophylactic drugs and medicines.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Germany during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | Germany's Export Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | $154.7 billion | -1.7% |
| 2 | Automobile parts/accessories | $67.1 billion | +7.4% |
| 3 | Medication mixes in dosage | $55.7 billion | +5.6% |
| 4 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $30.2 billion | -2.1% |
| 5 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $29 billion | +16.8% |
| 6 | Miscellaneous machinery | $18 billion | +11.8% |
| 7 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $16.7 billion | +11% |
| 8 | Computers, optical readers | $15.6 billion | +4.2% |
| 9 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $15.5 billion | +9.9% |
| 10 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $15.4 billion | +10.4% |
| 11 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $14.3 billion | +12% |
| 12 | Piston engine parts | $14 billion | +2.8% |
| 13 | Processed petroleum oils | $13.9 billion | +12.5% |
| 14 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $13.6 billion | +13.3% |
| 15 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $13.4 billion | +8.7% |
| 16 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $13.2 billion | +6.5% |
| 17 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $13.2 billion | +12.1% |
| 18 | Trucks | $11.9 billion | +15.1% |
| 19 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $11.7 billion | +10% |
| 20 | Turbo-jets | $11.7 billion | +48.6% |
| 21 | Aircraft parts | $11.1 billion | +2.5% |
| 22 | Petroleum gases | $11.1 billion | +52.3% |
| 23 | Air or vacuum pumps | $10.7 billion | +11.5% |
| 24 | Printing machinery | $10.6 billion | +9.1% |
| 25 | Other measuring/testing machines | $9.9 billion | +11% |
| 26 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $9.9 billion | +9.6% |
| 27 | Electrical converters/power units | $9.5 billion | +9.1% |
| 28 | Tractors | $9.5 billion | +6.2% |
| 29 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $9.2 billion | +8.2% |
| 30 | Insulated wire/cable | $9 billion | +15.8% |
| 31 | Electric motors, generators | $8.5 billion | +11.2% |
| 32 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $8.3 billion | +8.3% |
| 33 | Miscellaneous furniture | $7.9 billion | +6.3% |
| 34 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $7.4 billion | +70% |
| 35 | Engines (diesel) | $7.1 billion | +8.4% |
| 36 | Trailers | $7 billion | +10.7% |
| 37 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $7 billion | +4.6% |
| 38 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $6.8 billion | +10.8% |
| 39 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $6.7 billion | +6% |
| 40 | Regulate/control instruments | $6.7 billion | +13.5% |
| 41 | Temperature-change machines | $6.6 billion | +16.6% |
| 42 | Medication mixes not in dosage | $6.6 billion | +339.3% |
| 43 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $6.4 billion | +5.8% |
| 44 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $6 billion | +10.5% |
| 45 | Rubber tires (new) | $6 billion | +2.4% |
| 46 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $5.8 billion | +11.3% |
| 47 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $5.8 billion | +11.6% |
| 48 | Orthopedic appliances | $5.8 billion | +3.5% |
| 49 | Ball, roller bearings | $5.6 billion | +8.5% |
| 50 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $5.4 billion | +10.1% |
| 51 | X-ray equipment | $5.4 billion | +6.3% |
| 52 | Lifting/loading machinery | $5.3 billion | +14.3% |
| 53 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $5.3 billion | +5.4% |
| 54 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $5.3 billion | +10.6% |
| 55 | Piston engines | $5.2 billion | +4.9% |
| 56 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $5.2 billion | +11.7% |
| 57 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $5.2 billion | +9.6% |
| 58 | Machinery parts | $5.1 billion | +12% |
| 59 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $5 billion | +2.7% |
| 60 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $4.9 billion | +7.8% |
| 61 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $4.8 billion | +10.2% |
| 62 | Gold (unwrought) | $4.6 billion | -2.2% |
| 63 | Cheese, curd | $4.6 billion | +3.2% |
| 64 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $4.5 billion | +6% |
| 65 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $4.5 billion | +5% |
| 66 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $4.4 billion | +6.4% |
| 67 | Swine meat | $4.4 billion | -7.4% |
| 68 | Computer parts, accessories | $4.4 billion | +14.2% |
| 69 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $4.4 billion | +2.9% |
| 70 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $4.3 billion | +2.7% |
| 71 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $4.3 billion | +11.3% |
| 72 | Vulcanized rubber items | $4.2 billion | +6.7% |
| 73 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $4.1 billion | +9.3% |
| 74 | Iron or steel scrap | $4.1 billion | +13.6% |
| 75 | Other machine parts, accessories | $4.1 billion | +8.8% |
| 76 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $4.1 billion | +8.2% |
| 77 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $4.1 billion | +5.7% |
| 78 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $4 billion | +30% |
| 79 | Special purpose vehicles | $4 billion | +9.7% |
| 80 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $3.9 billion | +7.4% |
| 81 | Ethylene polymers | $3.9 billion | +4.1% |
| 82 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $3.9 billion | +5.6% |
| 83 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $3.8 billion | +17.3% |
| 84 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $3.8 billion | +10.6% |
| 85 | Fork-lift trucks | $3.8 billion | +10.5% |
| 86 | Coated paper | $3.8 billion | +6% |
| 87 | Electrical energy | $3.8 billion | +17.5% |
| 88 | Electrical machinery | $3.8 billion | +0% |
| 89 | Radar, radio communication items | $3.7 billion | +10.9% |
| 90 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $3.7 billion | +12% |
| 91 | Other food preparations | $3.7 billion | +8.8% |
| 92 | Cellulose fiber paper | $3.7 billion | +10.3% |
| 93 | Footwear (leather) | $3.6 billion | +9.4% |
| 94 | Electric storage batteries | $3.6 billion | +13.2% |
| 95 | Unrecorded sound media | $3.6 billion | -5.1% |
| 96 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $3.5 billion | +2.4% |
| 97 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $3.5 billion | +5.2% |
| 98 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $3.4 billion | +2.1% |
| 99 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $3.4 billion | +7.5% |
| 100 | Electric generating sets, converters | $3.4 billion | +39.2% |
| 101 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $3.3 billion | +11.4% |
| 102 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $3.2 billion | +4.6% |
| 103 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $3.2 billion | +24.6% |
| 104 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $3.2 billion | +11% |
| 105 | Amino-resins | $3.2 billion | +6.4% |
| 106 | Platinum (unwrought) | $3.1 billion | +55.5% |
| 107 | Pneumatic hand tool | $3.1 billion | +3.2% |
| 108 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $3.1 billion | +3.9% |
| 109 | Uncoated paper | $3 billion | +19.4% |
| 110 | Copper plates, sheets, strips | $3 billion | +11.1% |
| 111 | Polyamides | $3 billion | +9.4% |
| 112 | Print/write/draw inks | $3 billion | -0.1% |
| 113 | Metal-working machinery | $2.9 billion | +5.5% |
| 114 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $2.9 billion | +4.3% |
| 115 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $2.9 billion | +4.9% |
| 116 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $2.9 billion | +4.7% |
| 117 | Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes | $2.9 billion | -12.6% |
| 118 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $2.8 billion | +4.4% |
| 119 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $2.7 billion | +10.3% |
| 120 | Industrial preparation machinery | $2.7 billion | +10.5% |
| 121 | Metal soldering/hot-spray equipment | $2.6 billion | +9% |
| 122 | Copper wire | $2.6 billion | +12.4% |
| 123 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $2.6 billion | +11.2% |
| 124 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $2.6 billion | +8.5% |
| 125 | Refrigerators, freezers | $2.6 billion | +8% |
| 126 | Coffee | $2.5 billion | -3.9% |
| 127 | Footwear (textile) | $2.5 billion | +18.8% |
| 128 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $2.5 billion | +9.9% |
| 129 | Sawn wood | $2.5 billion | +16.3% |
| 130 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $2.4 billion | +10% |
| 131 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $2.4 billion | +13.4% |
| 132 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors | $2.4 billion | +15.6% |
| 133 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $2.4 billion | +7.8% |
| 134 | Motorcycles | $2.4 billion | +8.8% |
| 135 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $2.3 billion | +10.8% |
| 136 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $2.3 billion | +5.4% |
| 137 | Lubricant/cutting-oil preparations | $2.3 billion | +6.6% |
| 138 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $2.2 billion | +4.3% |
| 139 | Prepared adhesives, glues | $2.2 billion | +8.7% |
| 140 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $2.2 billion | +1.5% |
| 141 | Acrylic polymers | $2.2 billion | +8% |
| 142 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $2.2 billion | +7.5% |
| 143 | Coated/laminated non-wovens | $2.1 billion | +4.3% |
| 144 | Railway/tram locomotives, rolling stock | $2.1 billion | +12.1% |
| 145 | Acyclic alcohols | $2.1 billion | +17.6% |
| 146 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $2.1 billion | +9.8% |
| 147 | Nail/staple/glue machine tools | $2.1 billion | +12.5% |
| 148 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $2 billion | -3.3% |
| 149 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $2 billion | +12.6% |
| 150 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $2 billion | -1.2% |
| 151 | Table games, bowling equipment | $2 billion | +24.3% |
| 152 | Precious metal compounds | $2 billion | +31.3% |
| 153 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $2 billion | +10.3% |
| 154 | Glaze/graft putty, cement, filling | $2 billion | +5.6% |
| 155 | Ligneous materials/wood fiberboard | $2 billion | +3.5% |
| 156 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $2 billion | +10% |
| 157 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $2 billion | +5.4% |
| 158 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $2 billion | +8.7% |
| 159 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $2 billion | +8.4% |
| 160 | Aluminum bars/rods | $2 billion | +12.4% |
| 161 | Air conditioners | $1.9 billion | +7.8% |
| 162 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $1.9 billion | +3.6% |
| 163 | Navigational aids including compasses | $1.9 billion | +34.3% |
| 164 | Jewelry | $1.9 billion | -3.5% |
| 165 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $1.9 billion | +3.8% |
| 166 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $1.9 billion | +17.2% |
| 167 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $1.9 billion | +13.8% |
| 168 | Miscellaneous printed matter | $1.9 billion | +8.5% |
| 169 | Monofilament, rods, sticks, shapes | $1.8 billion | +4.9% |
| 170 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $1.8 billion | +12.2% |
| 171 | Filament/discharge lamps | $1.8 billion | -8.6% |
| 172 | Biodiesel | $1.8 billion | +16.4% |
| 173 | Electrical capacitators | $1.8 billion | +36.1% |
| 174 | Printed books, brochures | $1.8 billion | +11.5% |
| 175 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $1.8 billion | +12.5% |
| 176 | Plastic builders' items | $1.7 billion | +8.3% |
| 177 | High-voltage switches, fuses | $1.7 billion | +6.7% |
| 178 | Aluminum foil (thin) | $1.7 billion | +10.2% |
| 179 | Synthetic rubber | $1.7 billion | +1.7% |
| 180 | Insulating fitting | $1.7 billion | +3% |
| 181 | Alloy steel bars, rods | $1.7 billion | +18.5% |
| 182 | Connector/insulating parts | $1.7 billion | +18.3% |
| 183 | Miscellaneous meat (preserved/prepared) | $1.7 billion | +10.4% |
| 184 | Iron or steel springs, leaves | $1.7 billion | +7.3% |
| 185 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $1.7 billion | -12.9% |
| 186 | Derricks, cranes | $1.7 billion | -0.7% |
| 187 | Moulding boxes/base | $1.6 billion | +4.8% |
| 188 | Vacuum cleaners | $1.6 billion | +9.3% |
| 189 | Bridge structures, parts | $1.6 billion | +8.1% |
| 190 | Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections | $1.6 billion | +21.3% |
| 191 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $1.6 billion | +5.6% |
| 192 | Vulcanized rubber tubes, pipes | $1.6 billion | +7.9% |
| 193 | Copper waste, scrap | $1.6 billion | -6.2% |
| 194 | Soil preparation/cultivation machinery | $1.6 billion | +8.5% |
| 195 | Electric motor parts | $1.6 billion | +0.9% |
| 196 | Central heating boilers | $1.5 billion | +5.7% |
| 197 | Locks, lock-keys | $1.5 billion | +7.4% |
| 198 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners | $1.5 billion | +2.8% |
| 199 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $1.5 billion | -4% |
| 200 | Machine-tool for metal | $1.5 billion | -4.9% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$1.197 trillion or over three-quarters (76.9%) by value for all products exported from Deutschland during 2018.
See also Germany’s Top 10 Imports, Germany’s Top Trading Partners, Top German Trade Balances and Germany’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Forbes 2015 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 24, 2019
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on June 27, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 24, 2019
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 24, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on June 27, 2019
Wikipedia, Germany. Accessed on February 24, 2019
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on June 27, 2019
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Germany. Accessed on February 24, 2019
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on June 27, 2019
World’s Richest Countries, Targeted research > Enriching insights > Global opportunities (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on June 27, 2019
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