Vehicles continue to top the list of Germany's export products.
During the first half of the year, German exports drop. The automotive sector continues to lead as the main exporter, but it also experiences a decrease. Despite a decrease in demand and increased competition from China, vehicles remain Germany's top export item. In the first half of the year, exports of automobiles and auto parts decreased by 2.4% compared to the previous year, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. However, with a value of 135.3 billion euros, they remained the most significant export commodity from Germany.
In second place are machines, valued at 109.6 billion euros (-4.4%), followed by chemical products, also valued at 71.8 billion euros (-4.4%). The most significant imported goods were also motor vehicles and auto parts, valued at 73.0 billion euros (-4.2%), followed by data processing devices, valued at 64.3 billion euros (-9.8%).
Overall, German exports dropped by 1.6% to 801.7 billion euros from January to June. "Just like in previous years, the United States was the main market for German goods in the first half of 2024," the statisticians emphasized. Goods worth 80.7 billion euros were shipped there. France (62.4 billion euros) and the Netherlands (57.6 billion euros) came in second and third among the most important recipients of "Made in Germany" goods.
Wares worth 662.8 billion euros were imported into Germany in the first six months of the year, 6.2% less than the previous year. The most goods came once again from the People's Republic of China (73.5 billion euros). In second and third place among the most important supplier countries were the Netherlands (49.6 billion euros) and the USA (46.0 billion euros).
Germany had the highest export surpluses in trade with the United States (34.7 billion euros), France (27.5 billion euros), and the United Kingdom (23.0 billion euros) at the mid-year point. "More goods were imported from China than were exported," the statisticians said. The import surplus here amounted to 25.3 billion euros.
The statistics from the Federal Statistical Office indicate that exports of automobiles and auto parts decreased by 2.4% despite being Germany's top export item. Despite a decrease in demand and increased competition, vehicles remain the leading export commodity with a value of 135.3 billion euros.
