The value of Germany’s shipments in 2021 represents roughly 9.3% of overall global exports estimated at $17.503 trillion one year earlier in 2020.
Russia is Germany’s 14th biggest customer purchasing 1.9% of worldwide German exports during 2021. In contrast, Ukraine bought a tinier 0.4% of Germany’s worldwide shipments by value placing Ukraine as Germany’s 41st leading import partner by value.
Applying a continental lens, about two-thirds (67%) of Germany’s exports by value were delivered to fellow European countries while 18.1% were sold to importers in Asia. Germany shipped another 10.7% worth of goods to North America.
Smaller percentages went to Africa (1.7%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Germany’s Top 25 Trading Partners
Below is a ranked list showcasing 25 of Germany’s top trading partners. That is, countries that imported the most German shipments by dollar value during 2021. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total German exports.
- United States: US$144.3 billion (8.9% of Germany’s total exports)
- China: $122.6 billion (7.5%)
- France: $120.7 billion (7.4%)
- Netherlands: $108.3 billion (6.7%)
- Poland: $92.3 billion (5.7%)
- Italy: $88.8 billion (5.5%)
- Austria: $81.2 billion (5%)
- United Kingdom: $77.3 billion (4.8%)
- Switzerland: $72.4 billion (4.5%)
- Belgium: $59.6 billion (3.7%)
- Czech Republic: $54.6 billion (3.4%)
- Spain: $51.6 billion (3.2%)
- Hungary: $33.9 billion (2.1%)
- Russia: $31.5 billion (1.9%)
- Sweden: $31.47 billion (1.9%)
- Turkey: $25.2 billion (1.5%)
- Denmark: $24.3 billion (1.5%)
- South Korea: $22.1 billion (1.4%)
- Romania: $21.63 billion (1.3%)
- Japan: $21.57 billion (1.3%)
- Slovakia: $18 billion (1.1%)
- Mexico: $15.6 billion (1%)
- India: $14.7 billion (0.9%)
- Finland: $14.1 billion (0.9%)
- United Kingdom: $77.3 billion (4.8%)
Well over four-fifths (83.6%) of German exports in 2021 were delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
The fastest growers in terms of buying exported goods from Germany were: Italy (up 28.41% from 2020 to 2021), Brazil (up 28.39%), Poland (up 24%), United States of America (up 21.9%), Finland (up 21.8%), Czech Republic (up 21.7%), Netherlands (up 21.6%) and Austria (up 21.5%).
Trading Partners Causing the Greatest German Deficits
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
Germany incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- China: -US$44.6 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2021)
- Ireland: -$16 billion
- Vietnam: -$8.3 billion
- Bangladesh: -$7.5 billion
- Japan: -$6.2 billion
- Malaysia: -$5.7 billion
- South Africa: -$5.1 billion
- Czech Republic: -$4.5 billion
- Taiwan: -$3.4 billion
- Libya: -$2.9 billion
Among Germany’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, German deficits with Libya (up 550.7%), South Africa (up 128.1%) and Taiwan (up 117.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Germany’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Germany to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Trading Partners Generating the Greatest German Surpluses
Germany’s overall trade surplus shrank slightly by -0.8% to $205.3 billion for 2021 from $207 billion in black ink during 2020.
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
Germany incurred the highest trade surpluses at the expense of the following countries.
- United States: US$59.1 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2021)
- France: $47.1 billion
- United Kingdom: $39.4 billion
- Austria: $27.6 billion
- Switzerland: $13.7 billion
- Italy: $11.6 billion
- Sweden: $11.5 billion
- Spain: $11.3 billion
- Poland: $11 billion
- Denmark: $9.6 billion
Among Germany’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, German surpluses with Spain (up 55.4%), Italy (up 53.5%) and Poland (up 48.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Germany’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Germany to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Major German Companies Servicing Trading Partners
Over fifty German corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a 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)
According to IMPORTERS.com listings for German suppliers, the following are also examples of companies that ship products from Germany to its trading partners around the globe. Shown within parenthesis are products that the German business provides.
- 7Trade (mobile phones)
- Euro Car Export Ltd (vehicles)
- Flaskamp GmbH (liquid soap, washing powder)
- IMarketing Skirde Ltd (sports bags, garments)
- Kareva Marketing GmbH (calcium chloride, other drilling chemicals)
- Kgz Ersatzteile (diesel fuel lift pumps)
- Merbstrade (crude oil)
- Origiparts GmbH & Co. KG (engines, electrical parts)
- Tieig Industrial Group (industrial adhesives)
- Weser Apotheke (pharmaceuticals)
See also Germany’s Top 10 Imports, Germany’s Top 10 Exports, Top German Trade Balances and Germany’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 16, 2022
Forbes, Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 16, 2022
IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Germany Import Export Directory. Accessed on March 16, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 16, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 16, 2022
