Germany consistently ranks first in exporting motorized vehicles.
Despite a decrease in demand and rising competition from China, Germany continues to lead in vehicle exports. The first half of the year saw a 2.4% decrease in automobile and auto parts exports compared to the previous year, amounting to 135.3 billion euros, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Despite this decrease, vehicles and parts remained the country's top export. Machinery followed closely behind with 109.6 billion euros (-4.4%), while chemical products trailed behind with 71.8 billion euros (-4.4%).
Germany's total exports for the first six months of the year decreased by 1.6% to 801.7 billion euros. As in previous years, the United States remained the primary destination for German goods, with 80.7 billion euros worth of goods shipped there. France and the Netherlands ranked second and third with 62.4 and 57.6 billion euros in exports, respectively.
Germany imported 662.8 billion euros worth of goods in the first half of the year, a 6.2% decrease from the previous year. Once again, China was the largest source of imports, with 73.5 billion euros worth of goods. The Netherlands and the United States followed in second and third place with 49.6 and 46 billion euros in imports, respectively.
Germany reported surpluses in trade with the United States (34.7 billion euros), France (27.5 billion euros), and the United Kingdom (23 billion euros). However, the statisticians noted that more goods were imported from China than exported, resulting in an import surplus of 25.3 billion euros.
Despite the decrease in automobile and auto parts exports, Germany managed to minimize the impact by reducing exports by only 2.4% minus the previous year's figure. The decreasing trend continued in machinery exports, which saw a decline of 4.4% minus the previous year's figure.
