German exports dipped in July 2025, signalling a cooling in international demand despite modest year-on-year growth, according to provisional figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
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On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, exports fell 0.6% compared with June 2025, to a value of €130.2 billion. Imports declined 0.1% to €115.4 billion. Year-on-year, exports were up 1.4%, while imports increased by 4.3%. The trade surplus narrowed to €14.7 billion, compared with €15.4 billion in June and €17.7 billion in July 2024.
Trade with EU partners showed resilience. Exports to EU Member States totalled €74.8 billion, up 2.5% on June, while imports rose 1.1% to €60.3 billion. Within the euro area, exports reached €52.0 billion (+2.5%) and imports €39.8 billion (+1.3%). Exports to non-euro EU states increased by 2.6% to €22.8 billion, with imports up 0.7% at €20.5 billion.
In contrast, trade with non-EU countries weakened. Exports to so-called third countries dropped 4.5% to €55.3 billion, while imports fell 1.3% to €55.1 billion.
The United States remained Germany's largest non-EU export market, but goods exports fell sharply by 7.9% compared with June, to €11.1 billion – the lowest level since December 2021 and the fourth consecutive monthly decline. Year-on-year, exports to the US were down 14.1%. Exports to China fell 7.3% to €6.4 billion, while exports to the United Kingdom slipped 3.1% to €7.0 billion.
On the import side, China remained the leading source of goods, with volumes totalling €14.3 billion, though this represented a 2.4% decline on the month. Imports from the US dropped 10.0% to €7.8 billion, while imports from the UK rose 7.8% to €3.2 billion.
Trade with Russia continued to contract significantly. Exports fell 12.4% month on month to €0.5 billion, a decline of 19.8% compared with July 2024. Imports plunged 43.9% to just €0.1 billion, marking a 40.3% annual fall.
On a nominal, unadjusted basis, exports in July totalled €134.9 billion (+1.3% year on year), while imports reached €118.0 billion (+4.5%). The unadjusted trade surplus stood at €16.9 billion, down from €20.2 billion a year earlier.
The data highlight Germany's ongoing exposure to global economic headwinds, with weaker demand from major trading partners offset by stronger intra-EU flows.
More information:
Destatis
www.destatis.de
