Decrease in Exports in April 2025: 1.7% lower compared to March 2025
Spilled Ink: A Peek into Germany's Trading Dance with the World, April 2025
131.1 billion euros worth of exported goods
Down 1.7% from the previous month
Down 2.1% from the same month last year
Let's break down Germany's trading highs and lows for April 2025.
116.5 billion euros worth of imported goods
Up 3.9% from the previous month
Up 3.8% from the same month last year
And drumroll please, the balance of these trading shenanigans:
14.6 billion euros trade surplus
In April 2025, Germany's trade balance saw a dip compared to March 2025, with exports taking a slight hit and imports surging. The statistics, courtesy of Destatis, reveal a 2.1% decrease in exports compared to April 2024, while imports rose by 3.8% over the same period.
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of Germany's trade with its EU pals and third parties.
EU Trade:
Goods worth 72.9 billion euros exported to EU member states
59.8 billion euros imported from there
0.9% increase in exports, 4.5% increase in imports, compared to March 2025
Eurozone Trade:
50.6 billion euros (+0.5%) exported to
39.4 billion euros (+5.0%) imported from
Non-EU (Third-Party) Trade:
58.1 billion euros exported to third countries
56.7 billion euros imported from there
4.8% decrease in exports, 3.4% increase in imports, compared to March 2025
Top export destinations:
United States: 13.0 billion euros (-10.5% from the previous month)
People's Republic of China: 7.0 billion euros (-5.9% from the previous month)
United Kingdom: 6.3 billion euros (-2.1% from the previous month)
As for the imports, guess who took the cake:
People's Republic of China: 13.9 billion euros (-4.1% from the previous month)
United States: 8.4 billion euros (+3.9% from the previous month)
United Kingdom: 3.0 billion euros (-8.1% from the previous month)
Russia, oh Russia…
Exports to Russia decreased by 5.3% to 0.6 billion euros
Imports decreased by 22.6% to 0.1 billion euros
The ongoing geopolitical tensions seem to be casting a long shadow on German-Russian trade. Let's keep an eye on these ol' enemies-turned-trading-partners.
Want more tea about German trade trends? Be sure to check out the following tidbits, but remember, they're just a small sip of the full jug:
Germany's industrial production, affected by economic conditions, decreased by 1.4% and 1.8% in April 2025, compared to the previous month and the same month last year, respectively.
Real new orders in manufacturing showed a slight increase of 0.6%, with significant gains in sectors like computer/electronics and other transport equipment, in April 2025 compared to the previous month.
The U.S. administration's tariff threats continue to impact German trade, particularly affecting export-driven sectors. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and sanctions have significantly impacted trade between Germany and Russia.
Germany's trade with China is significant, with both countries being major trading partners. However, specific data on trade trends between Germany and China from April 2024 to April 2025 is not detailed in the available sources.
In the complex dance of business, the finance industry is intriguingly linked to Germany's trading performance. The export decline to third countries, particularly a 4.8% decrease in April 2025, could impact numerous other industries reliant on international trade. Conversely, the surge in imports from countries like China, up by 3.4% in the same time frame, points to the growing influence of other markets on Germany's domestic economy.
