German exports to the United States rebounded in September after months of decline following the introduction of US tariffs, helping drive a bigger-than-expected rise in overall shipments, official data showed today.
Exports of German products to the world’s top economy were up almost 12 per cent from a month earlier, according to preliminary data from the federal statistics agency Destatis.
This followed five straight months of falls, although Germany’s exports to the United States — its biggest trade partner in 2024 — remained well below the level seen in September last year.
Germany’s total exports rose 1.4 percent in September to 131.1 billion euros ($151 billion), higher than a 0.5-percent increase forecast by analysts at financial data firm FactSet, Destatis said. It was the first rise since June.
Friday’s data showed that “German exports are not falling off a cliff”, said ING bank economist Carsten Brzeski.
“However, half a year after US President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’, German exports have still not fully recovered.”
Trump’s sweeping tariffs have hit Europe’s long-struggling top economy hard because its firms ship a huge quantity of goods to the United States, from cars to factory equipment and pharmaceuticals.
Exports to China, meanwhile, dropped 2.2 per cent in September, Destatis said.
This reflects weaker demand for German goods in the key market due to China’s own economic problems, as well as local rivals increasingly competing with German manufacturers.
Most imports to Germany came from China in September, with Chinese shipments up more than six per cent compared to August.
The world’s number-two economy has been redirecting its exports to non-US markets in recent months in response to higher US tariffs.
Germany’s total imports rose 3.1 per cent in September from the previous month to 115.9 billion euros.
The trade surplus narrowed to 15.3 billion euros.
