U.S. imports from Germany experienced a significant decrease in 2025, marking the lowest point since 2021.
In a surprising turn of events, Germany's trade surplus has taken a hit in the first seven months of 2025. The country's global trade surplus fell by 32.7 billion euros or 21.2 percent to 121.3 billion euros.
The USA remains Germany's largest trade surplus partner, but the export surplus in trade with the United States fell by 6.2 billion euros or 15.1 percent year-on-year to 28.4 billion euros from January to July 2025. Imports from the USA to Germany rose by 2.2 percent to 55.3 billion euros.
However, the trade deficit with the People's Republic of China increased significantly, reaching 47.7 billion euros, a 16.7 billion euro increase and more than 54.1 percent compared to the previous year. This marked a higher trade deficit with China than was recorded in January-July 2022, at 47.9 billion euros.
Germany's trade surplus decreased significantly with Mexico (-1.8 billion euros, -32.6 percent), Italy (-1.6 billion euros, -19.5 percent), and Canada (-1.5 billion euros, -41.0 percent) in the first seven months of 2025. The trade deficit with these countries also increased significantly.
The trade deficit with Vietnam, Hungary, and the Czech Republic also increased significantly in the first seven months of 2025. The trade deficit with Vietnam increased by 28.4 percent to 8.6 billion euros, with Hungary by more than 141.8 percent to 2.6 billion euros, and with the Czech Republic by more than 36.7 percent to 5.3 billion euros.
In contrast, the difference between the trade surplus with France and the USA narrowed significantly, with France having a surplus of only 4.2 billion euros less than the USA in 2025. The trade surplus with France in the first seven months of 2025 decreased slightly by 0.2 percent year-on-year to 30.4 billion euros.
The trade surplus with Mexico was 3.6 billion euros, with Italy 6.6 billion euros, and with Canada 2.1 billion euros in the same period.
It's important to note that in 2024, the trade surplus with France was 10.3 billion euros more than the surplus with the USA.
These changes in Germany's trade balance could have significant implications for the country's economy and its relations with trading partners. As the situation continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Germany navigates these challenges and seeks to maintain its position as a global economic powerhouse.
