Germany Balance of Trade

Last Release

Feb 29, 2024

Actual

21.4

Units In

EUR Million

27.57

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

May 07, 2024

Time to Release

28 Days 7 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
25,455.63 Mar 2016	-535.91 Apr 1991	5,589.19 EUR Million	1950-2024	Federal Statistical Office

Germany runs regular trade surpluses since 1952, primarily due to strong exports of vehicles and other machinery. In 2017, the largest trade surpluses were recorded with the US, the UK, France, Austria, Spain, Sweden and the UAE; while the biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Vietnam, Norway, Russia, the Netherlands, Ireland and Czech Republic.

Latest Updates

Germany's trade surplus declined to EUR 21.4 billion in February 2024 from a record high of EUR 27.5 billion in the previous month, below market forecasts of EUR 25.5 billion. It was the smallest trade surplus since last October, as exports fell while imports grew. Exports dropped 2% to EUR 132.9 billion, worse than expectations of a 0.5% fall. Shipments to the EU shrank by 3.9%, while those to third countries went up by 0.4%, with exports to the US rising by 10.2% and Russia by 1.5%. By contrast, exports decreased to China (-0.6%) and the UK (-2.0%). Meanwhile, imports unexpectedly rose 3.2% to a three-month high of EUR 111.5 billion, easily market market forecasts of a 1% drop. Imports from the non-EU surged 14.7%, particularly from China (16.0%) and Russia (23.5%). By contrast, imports fell from the US (-5.2%) and the UK (-4.6%). Meantime, purchases from non-EU shrank by 5.7%.