China has regained its position as Germany’s largest trading partner, surpassing the United States, according to data released today by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The total volume of trade – the sum of exports and imports – with China reached approximately 251.8 billion euros in the period from January to December 2025.
This marks a reversal from 2024, when the United States briefly held the top spot. The trade volume with the U.S. Declined by 5.0 percent to 240.5 billion euros in 2025, a shift attributed in part to a decrease in German exports. The decline in German exports to the U.S. Is linked to the trade policies enacted by the U.S. Administration, according to Destatis.
China had previously been Germany’s leading trade partner continuously from 2016 to 2023. The shift back to China reflects a 2.1 percent increase in trade volume compared to the previous year. While overall trade with China increased, German exports to China experienced a more significant decline of 9.7 percent, while imports from China rose by approximately 8.8 percent. This resulted in China’s trade surplus with Germany increasing by one-third to 89.3 billion euros.
The value of German imports from China now exceeds the value of exports to China by more than double, a significant shift in the bilateral economic relationship. Imports from China totaled 170.6 billion euros in 2025, an 8.8 percent increase year-on-year, while exports to China reached 81.3 billion euros, a 9.7 percent decrease.
The Netherlands remain a significant trade partner for Germany, ranking third with a total trade volume of 209.1 billion euros, representing a 3.3 percent increase. Despite the overall decline, the United States remains the most important destination for German exports.
Sebastian Dullien, scientific director of the Institute for Macroeconomics and Economic Research (IMK), noted that the current trade data reflects broader geo-economic shifts impacting German industry. He stated that both China and the United States are pursuing policies aimed at increasing their independence from industrial imports.
The trade data for January to September 2025, released in November 2025, initially indicated China had overtaken the U.S. With a trade volume of 185.9 billion euros compared to 184.7 billion euros for the U.S. The full-year figures confirm and expand upon this trend.
