Between January and August 2025, bilateral trade between Germany and China reached €163.4 billion, which is slightly higher than in the United States of America €162.8 billion, Reuters reports citing German statistics.
This figure means that China has once again become Germany's largest trading partner, regaining its position after a year-long pause when it was held by the United States.
Reasons for the change of leader
Analysts identify several important factors:
Due to the Trump administration's new tariffs on the US market, Germany's exports to the US fell by 7,4% in the first eight months of 2025.
At the same time, Germany's imports from China increased by 8,3%, to €108.8 billion.
Exports to China, however, decreased by 13,5%, but this did not prevent overall trade from growing.
Implications for Germany and Europe
Experts warn that Germany's growing dependence on Chinese supplies could be a risk.
«The renewed import boom from China is a cause for concern... it is increasing dependence and creating competitive pressure on key German industries,» says Carsten Breski with ING.
Berlin has previously announced its intention to reduce its economic dependence on China, but the facts show the opposite trend.
What's next
As the global market remains tense due to geopolitics and protectionist measures, it is important for Germany to review its foreign economic strategy. Increased trade with China could change the balance of power in the European economy and pose additional challenges in terms of technological competition and security.
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