Germany's trade surplus widened to €21.2 billion in January 2026 from €15.9 billion in the same month a year earlier, easily surpassing market expectations of €15.2 billion and marking the largest surplus since August 2024. Exports fell 2.3% month-on-month to €130.5 billion, mainly due to lower shipments to EU member states (-4.8%), particularly within the Eurozone (-5.7%) and outside the Eurozone (-2.7%). In contrast, shipments to third countries rose 1%, supported by an 11.7% surge in exports to the United States, Germany’s largest export market. Meanwhile, imports dropped more sharply, falling 5.9% month-on-month to a seventeen-month low of €109.2 billion. Arrivals declined from EU member states (-6.5%), including the Eurozone (-5.9%) and non-Eurozone countries (-7.8%). Arrivals from third countries also dropped 5.3%, with imports from China (-8.3%) and the United States (-8.2%) recording notable declines. source: Federal Statistical Office

Germany recorded a trade surplus of 21.20 EUR Billion in January of 2026. Balance of Trade in Germany averaged 7.35 EUR Billion from 1962 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 25.15 EUR Billion in January of 2024 and a record low of -0.39 EUR Billion in May of 1991. This page provides - Germany Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Germany Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Germany recorded a trade surplus of 21.20 EUR Billion in January of 2026. Balance of Trade in Germany is expected to be 14.00 EUR Billion by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Germany Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 17.10 EUR Billion in 2027 and 20.00 EUR Billion in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-06 07:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Dec €17.1B €13.6B €14.1B €14.0B
2026-03-10 07:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Jan €21.2B €17.4B €15.2B €15.4B
2026-04-09 06:00 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb €21.2B €19.1B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 21.20 17.40 EUR Billion Jan 2026
Current Account 17076.22 17355.90 EUR Million Jan 2026
Exports MoM 130.47 133.51 EUR Billion Jan 2026
Imports MoM 109.20 116.10 EUR Billion Jan 2026
Terms of Trade 103.60 103.80 points Jan 2026
Tourist Arrivals 3051.57 2556.17 Thousand Dec 2025


Germany Balance of Trade
Germany continued to post significant trade surpluses with key partners in 2024. The surplus with the United States stood at approximately €69.8 billion, reflecting robust demand for German industrial goods, such as motor vehicles and machinery. In contrast, Germany recorded a substantial trade deficit with China—around €66.3 billion—due to high imports of electronics, machinery, and other manufactured products. Overall, the US regained its position as Germany’s largest trading partner, slightly ahead of China, with the Netherlands ranking third.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
21.20 17.40 25.15 -0.39 1962 - 2026 EUR Billion Monthly
Current Prices, SA

News Stream
German Trade Surplus Exceeds Expectations
Germany's trade surplus widened to €21.2 billion in January 2026 from €15.9 billion in the same month a year earlier, easily surpassing market expectations of €15.2 billion and marking the largest surplus since August 2024. Exports fell 2.3% month-on-month to €130.5 billion, mainly due to lower shipments to EU member states (-4.8%), particularly within the Eurozone (-5.7%) and outside the Eurozone (-2.7%). In contrast, shipments to third countries rose 1%, supported by an 11.7% surge in exports to the United States, Germany’s largest export market. Meanwhile, imports dropped more sharply, falling 5.9% month-on-month to a seventeen-month low of €109.2 billion. Arrivals declined from EU member states (-6.5%), including the Eurozone (-5.9%) and non-Eurozone countries (-7.8%). Arrivals from third countries also dropped 5.3%, with imports from China (-8.3%) and the United States (-8.2%) recording notable declines.
2026-03-10
German Trade Surplus Widens in December
Germany’s trade surplus widened to €17.1 billion in December 2025, up from an upwardly revised €13.6 billion in November and surpassing market expectations of €14.1 billion. Exports rose 4.0% to a 20-month high of €133.3 billion, well above forecasts of a 1.0% increase, rebounding from a 2.5% fall in the previous month. Export growth was supported by stronger shipments to the EU and non-EU countries, with exports to the US, Germany’s largest market, which rose 8.9%. Outbound shipments also increased to China (10.7%), the UK (14.6%), and Russia (1.8%). Imports rose 1.4% to a 29-month high of €116.2 billion, exceeding expectations of a 0.2% increase, supported by higher purchases from both EU and non-EU countries, including the US (3.0%), China (4.1%), and Russia (6%). For the full year of 2025, Germany registered a trade surplus of €202.7 billion, with exports up just 1.0% while imports increased 4.4%.
2026-02-06
German Trade Surplus Smallest in Nearly 3 Years
Germany’s trade surplus narrowed to €13.1 billion in November 2025, down from an upwardly revised €17.2 billion in October and below market expectations of €16.5 billion. This was the smallest surplus since December 2022, as exports fell 2.5% to a 13-month low of €128.1 billion, missing forecasts for flat growth. Weak demand from the EU (-4.2%) and other trading partners (-0.2%) weighed on shipments, with exports to the US, Germany’s largest market, declining 4.2% amid the ongoing impact of tariffs. Exports to the UK also fell sharply, down by 8.1%. Imports rose 0.8% to €115.1 billion, above the expected 0.2%, supported by higher purchases from China (8.0%), the US (7.9%), and the UK (10.9%). For the first eleven months of 2025, Germany recorded a trade surplus of €182.3 billion, with exports up just 0.9% while imports rose 4.6%.
2026-01-09