German imports represent 7.2% of total global imports which totaled an estimated $17.788 trillion one year earlier in 2017.
From a continental lens, 64.3% of Germany’s total imports by value in 2018 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners satisfied 22.1% of import purchases by Germany while 7.1% worth of goods originated from North America. Smaller percentages came from customers in Africa (2%), Latin America (1.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia.
Given Germany’s population of 80.5 million people, its total $1.287 trillion in 2018 imports translates to roughly $16,900 in yearly product demand from every person in the European republic.
Germany’s Top 10 Imports
Top 10
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Germany’s import purchases during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Germany.
- Machinery including computers: US$165.5 billion (12.9% of total imports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $159.1 billion (12.4%)
- Vehicles: $131.1 billion (10.2%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $117.9 billion (9.2%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $57.9 billion (4.5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $49 billion (3.8%)
- Organic chemicals: $46.4 billion (3.6%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $44.2 billion (3.4%)
- Iron, steel: $33.3 billion (2.6%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $25.6 billion (2%)
Germany’s top 10 imports accounted for almost two-thirds (64.5%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Organic chemicals had the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 35.3% from 2017 to 2018.
In second place was the mineral fuels including oil category (up 22.7%), followed by iron and steel (up 15.1%) then plastics including items made from plastic (up 10.3%).
Slowest-growing year over year was the vehicles category, thanks to its 5.3% expansion.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Germany’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article or under the adjacent product folder tabs.
Machinery
In 2018, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$24.6 billion (up 7.5% from 2017)
- Turbo-jets: $12.2 billion (up 17.9%)
- Printing machinery: $9.9 billion (up 11%)
- Piston engine parts: $7.2 billion (up 7.4%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $7 billion (up 11.1%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $6.3 billion (up 10.3%)
- Computer parts, accessories: $6.3 billion (up 7.1%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $6.1 billion (up 10.8%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $5.5 billion (up 16.4%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $5.2 billion (up 7.2%)
Among these import subcategories, German purchases of turbo-jets (up 17.9%), miscellaneous machinery (up 16.4%) and taps, valves or similar appliances (up 11.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among German businesses and consumers.
Electronics
In 2018, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical equipment including consumer electronics.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$24.1 billion (up 7.7% from 2017)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $19.5 billion (up 12.7%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $11.5 billion (up 7.7%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $8.5 billion (up 8.3%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $7.5 billion (up 16.2%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $7.2 billion (up 13.4%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $6.8 billion (up 11.3%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $6.4 billion (down -4.6%)
- Electric motors, generators: $5.9 billion (up 10.7%)
- Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters: $4.6 billion (up 3.8%)
Among these import subcategories, German purchases of electrical and optical circuit boards or panels (up 16.2%), solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 13.4%) and integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 12.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among German businesses and consumers.
Vehicles
In 2018, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$61.5 billion (up 5.2% from 2017)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $43.8 billion (up 4.8%)
- Trucks: $7.1 billion (up 27.2%)
- Tractors: $3.2 billion (up 27.4%)
- Trailers: $2.9 billion (up 12.2%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $2.3 billion (up 9.5%)
- Motorcycles: $2 billion (up 20.2%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $1 billion (up 5.2%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $757.4 million (up 9.2%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $563.3 million (up 26.4%)
Among these import subcategories, German purchases of tractors (up 27.4%), trucks (up 27.2%) and special purpose vehicles (up 26.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among German businesses and consumers.
Fuel
In 2018, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$45.1 billion (up 24.4% from 2017)
- Petroleum gases: $33.8 billion (up 19.7%)
- Processed petroleum oils: $25.6 billion (up 26.3%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $5.7 billion (down -3.6%)
- Electrical energy: $1.6 billion (up 35%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $746.3 million (down -7.5%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $736.2 million (up 10.6%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $509.7 million (up 86.7%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $360.8 million (down -1.4%)
- Peat: $99.9 million (up 17.3%)
Among these import subcategories, German purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 86.7%), electrical energy (up 35%) and processed petroleum oils (up 26.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among German businesses and consumers.
Searchable List of Germany’s Most Valuable Import Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, Germany’s top import products are cars, auto parts or accessories, crude oil followed by petroleum gases then medication mixes in dosage.
The following searchable table displays 200 of Germany’s most in-demand imported goods during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | Germany's Import Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | $61.5 billion | +5.2% |
| 2 | Crude oil | $45.1 billion | +24.4% |
| 3 | Automobile parts/accessories | $43.8 billion | +4.8% |
| 4 | Petroleum gases | $33.8 billion | +19.7% |
| 5 | Medication mixes in dosage | $28.6 billion | +9.9% |
| 6 | Processed petroleum oils | $25.6 billion | +26.3% |
| 7 | Computers, optical readers | $24.6 billion | +7.5% |
| 8 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $24.1 billion | +7.7% |
| 9 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $24.1 billion | +4.7% |
| 10 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $19.5 billion | +12.7% |
| 11 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $15.8 billion | +70.6% |
| 12 | Turbo-jets | $12.2 billion | +17.9% |
| 13 | Insulated wire/cable | $11.5 billion | +7.7% |
| 14 | Printing machinery | $9.9 billion | +11% |
| 15 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $9.8 billion | +9.8% |
| 16 | Aircraft parts | $9.1 billion | +15.8% |
| 17 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $8.5 billion | +8.3% |
| 18 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $8.5 billion | +3.6% |
| 19 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $7.5 billion | +16.2% |
| 20 | Rubber tires (new) | $7.3 billion | +7% |
| 21 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $7.2 billion | +13.4% |
| 22 | Piston engine parts | $7.2 billion | +7.4% |
| 23 | Trucks | $7.1 billion | +27.2% |
| 24 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $7 billion | -23.9% |
| 25 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $7 billion | +11.1% |
| 26 | Electrical converters/power units | $6.8 billion | +11.3% |
| 27 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $6.4 billion | -4.6% |
| 28 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $6.3 billion | +10.3% |
| 29 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $6.3 billion | +9.6% |
| 30 | Computer parts, accessories | $6.3 billion | +7.1% |
| 31 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $6.2 billion | +8.5% |
| 32 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $6.1 billion | +10.8% |
| 33 | Miscellaneous furniture | $6 billion | +5.5% |
| 34 | Electric motors, generators | $5.9 billion | +10.7% |
| 35 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $5.7 billion | -3.6% |
| 36 | Miscellaneous machinery | $5.5 billion | +16.4% |
| 37 | Orthopedic appliances | $5.5 billion | +1.4% |
| 38 | Footwear (leather) | $5.3 billion | +14% |
| 39 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $5.2 billion | +7.2% |
| 40 | Air or vacuum pumps | $5.2 billion | +13.9% |
| 41 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $4.9 billion | +2% |
| 42 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $4.8 billion | +2.7% |
| 43 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $4.8 billion | +16.8% |
| 44 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $4.7 billion | +9.8% |
| 45 | Ball, roller bearings | $4.7 billion | +11.3% |
| 46 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $4.7 billion | +6.9% |
| 47 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $4.6 billion | +3.8% |
| 48 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $4.6 billion | +11.6% |
| 49 | Sulphonamides | $4.6 billion | +156.5% |
| 50 | Gold (unwrought) | $4.6 billion | -15.8% |
| 51 | Engines (diesel) | $4.5 billion | -7.1% |
| 52 | Machinery parts | $4.5 billion | +16.4% |
| 53 | Electric storage batteries | $4.5 billion | +13.3% |
| 54 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $4.5 billion | +12.7% |
| 55 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $4.4 billion | +11.4% |
| 56 | Platinum (unwrought) | $4.4 billion | +14.7% |
| 57 | Cheese, curd | $4.4 billion | +3.6% |
| 58 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $4.4 billion | +2.4% |
| 59 | Ethylene polymers | $4.3 billion | +2.9% |
| 60 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $4.1 billion | +3.1% |
| 61 | Piston engines | $4.1 billion | +7.5% |
| 62 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $4 billion | +18.6% |
| 63 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $4 billion | +9.3% |
| 64 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $3.9 billion | +11.9% |
| 65 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $3.9 billion | +14.1% |
| 66 | Footwear (textile) | $3.7 billion | +13.2% |
| 67 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $3.7 billion | +6.9% |
| 68 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $3.6 billion | +3.2% |
| 69 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $3.6 billion | +6.2% |
| 70 | Iron ores, concentrates | $3.6 billion | +3.7% |
| 71 | Other measuring/testing machines | $3.5 billion | +16.1% |
| 72 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $3.5 billion | +7.5% |
| 73 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $3.5 billion | +10.7% |
| 74 | Coffee | $3.5 billion | -1.6% |
| 75 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $3.4 billion | +3.4% |
| 76 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $3.3 billion | +7.2% |
| 77 | Vulcanized rubber items | $3.3 billion | +6.7% |
| 78 | Unrecorded sound media | $3.3 billion | -6.9% |
| 79 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $3.3 billion | +13.7% |
| 80 | Regulate/control instruments | $3.2 billion | +12.4% |
| 81 | Tractors | $3.2 billion | +27.4% |
| 82 | Coated paper | $3.1 billion | +7.2% |
| 83 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $3.1 billion | -3.4% |
| 84 | Wine | $3.1 billion | +7.7% |
| 85 | Refrigerators, freezers | $3.1 billion | +12% |
| 86 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $3.1 billion | +15.6% |
| 87 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $3 billion | +18.9% |
| 88 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $3 billion | -3.1% |
| 89 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $3 billion | +2.9% |
| 90 | Copper waste, scrap | $2.9 billion | +7.8% |
| 91 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $2.9 billion | +10.1% |
| 92 | Table games, bowling equipment | $2.9 billion | +18.6% |
| 93 | Trailers | $2.9 billion | +12.2% |
| 94 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $2.9 billion | +5.8% |
| 95 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $2.9 billion | +7.7% |
| 96 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $2.7 billion | +7.9% |
| 97 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $2.6 billion | +25.5% |
| 98 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $2.6 billion | +13.2% |
| 99 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $2.6 billion | +2.1% |
| 100 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $2.5 billion | +20.5% |
| 101 | Rape/colza seeds | $2.5 billion | -6.6% |
| 102 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $2.5 billion | +4.5% |
| 103 | Temperature-change machines | $2.5 billion | +9.2% |
| 104 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $2.4 billion | +7.9% |
| 105 | Electrical capacitators | $2.4 billion | +32.2% |
| 106 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $2.4 billion | +14% |
| 107 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $2.4 billion | +13.4% |
| 108 | Pneumatic hand tool | $2.4 billion | +3.6% |
| 109 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $2.4 billion | +0% |
| 110 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $2.4 billion | +15.4% |
| 111 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $2.3 billion | +4.8% |
| 112 | Copper ores, concentrates | $2.3 billion | +3.7% |
| 113 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $2.3 billion | +9.5% |
| 114 | Iron ferroalloys | $2.3 billion | +19% |
| 115 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $2.3 billion | +9.9% |
| 116 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $2.3 billion | +7.7% |
| 117 | Electrical machinery | $2.2 billion | +0.6% |
| 118 | Aluminum bars/rods | $2.2 billion | +10.8% |
| 119 | Printed circuits | $2.2 billion | +6.1% |
| 120 | Print/write/draw inks | $2.1 billion | +0.8% |
| 121 | Air conditioners | $2.1 billion | +8.6% |
| 122 | Electric motor parts | $2.1 billion | +11.5% |
| 123 | Miscellaneous nuts | $2.1 billion | +5.2% |
| 124 | Coins | $2.1 billion | +628.2% |
| 125 | Women's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $2.1 billion | +6% |
| 126 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $2.1 billion | +8.9% |
| 127 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $2.1 billion | +13.9% |
| 128 | Polyamides | $2.1 billion | +21.3% |
| 129 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $2.1 billion | +1.7% |
| 130 | Motorcycles | $2 billion | +20.2% |
| 131 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $2 billion | +2.7% |
| 132 | Other machine parts, accessories | $2 billion | +12.2% |
| 133 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $2 billion | +33.3% |
| 134 | Radar, radio communication items | $2 billion | -12.4% |
| 135 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $2 billion | +11.4% |
| 136 | Poultry meat | $2 billion | +15.5% |
| 137 | Fresh or chilled beef | $1.9 billion | +0.6% |
| 138 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $1.9 billion | -25.6% |
| 139 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $1.9 billion | +2.7% |
| 140 | Railway/tram locomotives, rolling stock | $1.8 billion | +17.2% |
| 141 | Sports equipment | $1.8 billion | +18.1% |
| 142 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $1.8 billion | +10.1% |
| 143 | Other food preparations | $1.8 billion | +8% |
| 144 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $1.8 billion | +5.4% |
| 145 | Miscellaneous fresh/chilled vegetables | $1.8 billion | +1.4% |
| 146 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $1.8 billion | -0.5% |
| 147 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $1.7 billion | +9.5% |
| 148 | Fish fillets, pieces | $1.7 billion | -1.5% |
| 149 | Swine meat | $1.7 billion | -4.7% |
| 150 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $1.7 billion | +5.8% |
| 151 | Acyclic alcohols | $1.7 billion | +4.8% |
| 152 | Jewelry | $1.7 billion | +3% |
| 153 | Fruit and vegetable juices | $1.7 billion | +10.4% |
| 154 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $1.7 billion | +2.8% |
| 155 | Iron or steel scrap | $1.7 billion | +8.6% |
| 156 | Lifting/loading machinery | $1.6 billion | +12.1% |
| 157 | Styrene polymers | $1.6 billion | +8.2% |
| 158 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $1.6 billion | +6.4% |
| 159 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $1.6 billion | +6.1% |
| 160 | Electrical energy | $1.6 billion | +35% |
| 161 | Alloy steel bars, rods | $1.6 billion | +29.6% |
| 162 | Linens | $1.6 billion | +5% |
| 163 | Uncoated kraft paper | $1.5 billion | +13.8% |
| 164 | Vacuum cleaners | $1.5 billion | +23.9% |
| 165 | Sawn wood | $1.5 billion | +13% |
| 166 | Women's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $1.5 billion | -0.1% |
| 167 | Printed books, brochures | $1.5 billion | +14.7% |
| 168 | Not concentrated/unsweetened milk, cream | $1.5 billion | -12.5% |
| 169 | Soya beans | $1.5 billion | +20.3% |
| 170 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $1.5 billion | -0.7% |
| 171 | Speed/distance meters | $1.5 billion | +12.8% |
| 172 | Tomatoes | $1.5 billion | 0% |
| 173 | Safety glass | $1.4 billion | +5.9% |
| 174 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $1.4 billion | +2% |
| 175 | Miscellaneous heterocyclics | $1.4 billion | +39.1% |
| 176 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $1.4 billion | +12.1% |
| 177 | X-ray equipment | $1.4 billion | +14.1% |
| 178 | Amino-resins | $1.4 billion | +15.8% |
| 179 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $1.4 billion | +19.3% |
| 180 | Wrist/pocket watches (no precious metal case) | $1.4 billion | -14.7% |
| 181 | Miscellaneous live plants | $1.4 billion | +7.5% |
| 182 | Synthetic rubber | $1.4 billion | -1.6% |
| 183 | Zinc (unwrought) | $1.4 billion | +4.3% |
| 184 | Moulding boxes/base | $1.3 billion | +4.6% |
| 185 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $1.3 billion | +7.2% |
| 186 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $1.3 billion | +13% |
| 187 | Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $1.3 billion | +23.7% |
| 188 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $1.3 billion | +18.3% |
| 189 | Glass fibers | $1.3 billion | +5.4% |
| 190 | Wood carpentry, builders' joinery | $1.3 billion | +12.1% |
| 191 | Biodiesel | $1.3 billion | +44.8% |
| 192 | Fresh or dried citrus fruit | $1.3 billion | +8.6% |
| 193 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $1.3 billion | +6.4% |
| 194 | Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes | $1.3 billion | +39.7% |
| 195 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $1.3 billion | -4.8% |
| 196 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $1.3 billion | -7.4% |
| 197 | Electrical resistors | $1.3 billion | +16.6% |
| 198 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $1.3 billion | +7.4% |
| 199 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $1.3 billion | +18% |
| 200 | Fresh or dried flowers (for bouquets, ornamental) | $1.2 billion | +5% |
These 200 imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$941.9 billion or 73.2% by value for all products imported into Germany during 2018.
See also Germany’s Top 10 Exports, Germany’s Top Trading Partners, Top German Trade Balances and Germany’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). 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 February 25, 2019