The United States is ahead of everyone! It has become Germany’s main trading partner, overtaking China. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the United States was Germany’s largest trade partner in 2024. Destatis highlights that this is the first time Washington has surpassed Beijing since 2015.
Last year, for the first time in nine years, the United States became Germany’s top trading partner. Destatis reports that the total trade volume between the two countries (combined imports and exports) reached €252.8 billion. China used to hold the top spot, but things have changed. Destatis notes that from 2016 to 2023, China was Germany’s leading trade partner every single year.
Interestingly, Germany–US trade only grew by 0.1% last year. The shift happened mainly due to a drop in German exports to China. In 2024, Germany’s trade with China fell by 3.1%, totaling €246.3 billion. The Netherlands ranked third among Germany’s largest trade allies, with a trade volume of €205.7 billion—a 4.2% decrease compared to the previous year, according to Destatis.
Traditionally, Germany exports more to the US than it imports from there. Last year, this trade surplus widened by nearly 10%, reaching €70 billion. France and the Netherlands were Germany’s second and third-largest export destinations. However, when it comes to imports, China remains Germany’s top supplier, followed by the Netherlands and the US. Notably, Germany’s trade surplus increased by €21.4 billion last year, reaching €239.1 billion.
Meanwhile, Joachim Nagel, head of Germany’s central bank (Bundesbank), has warned that potential US tariffs could pose a serious threat to Germany’s economic growth due to the strong trade ties between the two nations. He also pointed out that Germany’s reliance on exports makes it especially vulnerable to declining global demand.
