The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Germany’s import purchases during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Germany.

At the more granular four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, Germany’s most valuable imported goods are cars followed by crude oil, electronic circuits then mobile phones.

1. Machinery including computers: US$148.5 billion (12.7% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $145.7 billion (12.5%)
3. Vehicles : $123.2 billion (10.5%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $96.2 billion (8.2%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $53.6 billion (4.6%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $44.4 billion (3.8%)
7. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $40.3 billion (3.4%)
8. Organic chemicals: $34.1 billion (2.9%)
9. Iron, steel: $29 billion (2.5%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $23.3 billion (2%)

Germany’s top 10 imports accounted for almost two-thirds (63.2%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported iron or steel had the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 25.7% from 2016 to 2017.

In second place was the mineral fuels including oil category (up 22.6%), followed by organic chemicals (up 12.2%) then vehicles (up 10.7%).

The slowest-growing categories year over year was optical, technical and medical apparatus (up 5.4%) and machinery including computers (up 8.6%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2017, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:

1. Computers, optical readers: US$23 billion (up 10.6% from 2016)
2. Turbo-jets: $9.1 billion (down -6.1%)
3. Printing machinery: $8.8 billion (up 7.8%)
4. Piston engine parts: $6.6 billion (up 4.1%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $6.2 billion (up 12.1%)
6. Computer parts, accessories: $5.9 billion (up 48.1%)
7. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $5.7 billion (up 5.6%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $5.5 billion (up 9.1%)
9. Engines (diesel): $4.8 billion (down -0.4%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $4.8 billion (up 8.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Germany’s purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 48.1%), taps, valves or similar appliances (up 12.1%) and computers including optical readers (up 10.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical equipment including consumer electronics:

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$22.3 billion (up 5.1% from 2016)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $17.2 billion (up 26.3%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $10.6 billion (up 11.6%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $7.7 billion (up 8.3%)
5. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $6.7 billion (up 10.3%)
6. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $6.3 billion (up 16.3%)
7. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $6.3 billion (up 8.9%)
8. Electrical converters/power units: $6.1 billion (up 9.6%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $5.3 billion (up 6.5%)
10. Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters: $4.5 billion (up 11.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Germany’s purchases of integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 26.3%), solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 16.3%) and insulated wire or cable (up 11.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles:

1. Cars: US$57.7 billion (up 12.4% from 2016)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $41.2 billion (up 9.8%)
3. Trucks: $5.6 billion (up 1.6%)
4. Trailers: $2.5 billion (up 14.1%)
5. Tractors: $2.5 billion (up 2.8%)
6. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $2.1 billion (up 0.2%)
7. Motorcycles: $1.5 billion (up 8.8%)
8. Automobile bodies: $1.1 billion (down -0.1%)
9. Public-transport vehicles: $988.4 million (up 8.3%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $682.8 million (up 1.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Germany’s purchases of trailers (up 14.1%), cars (up 12.4%) and automobile parts or accessories (up 9.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

1. Crude oil: US$36.2 billion (up 26.1% from 2016)
2. Petroleum gases: $28.2 billion (up 21.3%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $20.4 billion (up 20.7%)
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $5.8 billion (up 51.5%)
5. Electrical energy: $1.2 billion (up 4.6%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $802.8 million (up 16.7%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $663.3 million (up 91.5%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $365.2 million (up 11%)
9. Petroleum oil residues: $272.5 million (up 21.7%)
10. Peat: $84.5 million (up 14.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Germany’s purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 91.5%), coal, solid fuels made from coal (up 51.5%) and crude oil (up 26.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.