Germany’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

Named Deutschland in German, the Federal Republic of Germany imported US$1.172 trillion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -5.2% from $1.236 trillion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Germany’s main imported products in 2020 categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable German imports during 2020 for each of Germany’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners approached almost three-fifths (58%) of German import purchases.

Germany is strategically located in Central Europe. This geography facilitates Germany’s role as the economic powerhouse for the European Union and as a trading hub for its most valuable trading partners. Deutschland shares land borders with 10 key countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for German imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Germany’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Germany amounted to $133.7 billion or 11.4% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents an 8.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.5% of Germany’s imports from mainland China.

  1. Electronic equipment: $40.1 billion
  2. Machinery: $30.4 billion
  3. Other textiles, worn clothing: $7.8 billion
  4. Furniture, lighting, signs: $5.1 billion
  5. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $4.55 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $4.49 billion
  7. Knit or crochet clothing: $3.9 billion
  8. Toys, games: $3.5 billion
  9. Plastics: $3.1 billion
  10. Organic chemicals: $2.91 billion
  11. Vehicles: $2.87 billion
  12. Iron or steel products: $2.85 billion
  13. Footwear: $2.7 billion
  14. Leather, animal gut articles: $1.4 billion
  15. Base metal tools, cutlery: $1.2 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 416.7% gain in revenue, machinery (up 10.4%) then vehicles (up 8.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were articles made from leather or animal gut (down -19.4%), footwear (down -9.9%) then knitted or crocheted clothing (down -9.3%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Germany amounted to $89.1 billion or 7.6% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 71.2% of Germany’s imports from the Netherlands

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $13.4 billion
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $9.6 billion
  3. Machinery: $7 billion
  4. Plastics: $5.1 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $5.1 billion
  6. Vehicles: $3.9 billion
  7. Organic chemicals: $2.84 billion
  8. Dairy, eggs, honey: $2.81 billion
  9. Live trees and plants: $2.7 billion
  10. Vegetables: $2.5 billion
  11. Other chemical goods: $2.1 billion
  12. Iron and steel: $1.8 billion
  13. Meat: $1.6 billion
  14. Medical, technical equipment: $1.5 billion
  15. Aluminum: $1.4 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from the Netherlands under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 7.4% gain in revenue then pharmaceuticals (up 4.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -29.7%), vehicles (down -19.5%), iron and steel as materials (down -17.5%), aluminum (down -14.4%) then organic chemicals (down -13.3%).

Germany’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Germany amounted to $77.3 billion or 6.6% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.5% of Germany’s imports from America.

  1. Machinery: $12.8 billion
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $10.5 billion
  3. Medical, technical equipment: $8.9 billion
  4. Vehicles: $8.2 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $6.6 billion
  6. Mineral fuels including oil: $4.7 billion
  7. Aircraft, spacecraft: $3 billion
  8. Other chemical goods: $2.8 billion
  9. Organic chemicals: $2.6 billion
  10. Gems, precious metals: $2.5 billion
  11. Plastics: $2.2 billion
  12. Collector items, art, antiques: $1.13 billion
  13. Fruits, nuts: $1.12 billion
  14. Oil seed: $837.6 million
  15. Inorganic chemicals: $534.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from the United States under the collector items, art and antiques product category via a 196% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 53.7%), organic chemicals (up 36.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 29.3%) then mineral fuels including oil (up 22.6%) and pharmaceuticals (up 9.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -22.4%), electronic equipment (down -20.1%), oil seed (down -17.5%) then aircraft and spacecraft (down -16.4%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Poland

In 2020, Poland’s exports to Germany amounted to $66.9 billion or 5.7% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a 3.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.7% of Germany’s imports from Poland.

  1. Electronic equipment: $9.2 billion
  2. Machinery: $8.8 billion
  3. Vehicles: $8 billion
  4. Furniture, lighting, signs: $4.7 billion
  5. Plastics: $3.1 billion
  6. Iron or steel products: $2.3 billion
  7. Wood: $1.433 billion
  8. Tobacco: $1.411 billion
  9. Paper: $1.406 billion
  10. Copper: $1.25 billion
  11. Rubber: $1.17 billion
  12. Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion
  13. Books, newspapers, pictures: $981.5 million
  14. Iron and steel: $921.5 million
  15. Meat: $914.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from Poland under the electronic equipment product category via a 31.1% gain in revenue and tobacco (up 27.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -18.5%) then rubber (down -9.2%) and vehicles (down -8.4%).

Germany’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Germany amounted to $64.4 billion or 5.5% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 73.2% of Germany’s imports from France.

  1. Vehicles: $10.3 billion
  2. Machinery: $7.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $4.6 billion
  4. Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $3.9 billion
  6. Plastics: $3.1 billion
  7. Iron and steel: $2.7 billion
  8. Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.775 billion
  9. Medical, technical equipment: $1.768 billion
  10. Beverages: $1.493 billion
  11. Other chemical goods: $1.492 billion
  12. Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.19 billion
  13. Organic chemicals: $1.16 billion
  14. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.12 billion
  15. Paper: $1.06 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from France under the dairy, eggs and honey product category via a 7.8% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 2.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -33.2%), mineral fuels including oil (down -28.3%), iron and steel as materials (down -22.4%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -21.9%), machinery (down -17.8%) then medical or technical equipment (down -15.8%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Germany amounted to $61.7 billion or 5.3% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.7% of Germany’s imports from Italy.

  1. Machinery: $8.9 billion
  2. Vehicles: $7.5 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $4 billion
  4. Plastics: $3.5 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $3.4 billion
  6. Iron or steel products: $2.7 billion
  7. Iron and steel: $2.4 billion
  8. Beverages: $1.8 billion
  9. Gems, precious metals: $1.44 billion
  10. Footwear: $1.41 billion
  11. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.282 billion
  12. Fruits, nuts: $1.243 billion
  13. Organic chemicals: $1.241 billion
  14. Aluminum: $1.158 billion
  15. Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from Italy under the gems and precious metals product category via a 170.7% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 18.2%) then fruits and nuts (up 13.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -23.8%), organic chemicals (down -13.3%), machinery then (down -10.2%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to Germany amounted to $52.4 billion or 4.5% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a flatlining 1.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.3% of Germany’s imports from Switzerland.

  1. Pharmaceuticals: $9.5 billion
  2. Gems, precious metals: $6.1 billion
  3. Machinery: $5.7 billion
  4. Organic chemicals: $4.8 billion
  5. Medical, technical equipment: $3.7 billion
  6. Electronic equipment: $3.5 billion
  7. Plastics: $2.5 billion
  8. Clocks, watches: $1.1 billion
  9. Aluminum: $1 billion
  10. Iron or steel products: $974.5 million
  11. Vehicles: $781.6 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $690.7 million
  13. Base metal tools, cutlery: $658.9 million
  14. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $565.1 million
  15. Railway, tram equipment: $544.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from Switzerland under the gems and precious metals product category via a 70.2% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 3.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were railway or tram equipment (down -28.8%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -20.5%), aluminum (down -12.9%), clocks and watches (down -11.7%), vehicles (down -11.7%) then machinery (down -11.4%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Czech Republic

In 2020, Czech Republic’s exports to Germany amounted to $49.9 billion or 4.3% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.5% of Germany’s imports from the Czech Republic.

  1. Vehicles: $11.5 billion
  2. Machinery: $9.6 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $8 billion
  4. Iron or steel products: $2 billion
  5. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.9 billion
  6. Plastics: $1.7 billion
  7. Toys, games: $1.073 billion
  8. Medical, technical equipment: $1.07 billion
  9. Iron and steel: $978.7 million
  10. Rubber: $950.8 million
  11. Pharmaceuticals: $877 million
  12. Wood: $800.9 million
  13. Other base metal goods: $603.4 million
  14. Mineral fuels including oil: $592.6 million
  15. Aluminum: $556.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from the Czech Republic under the toys and games product category via a 7% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 5.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -25.5%), miscellaneous base metal goods (down -13.4%), rubber (down -11.9%), iron and steel as materials (down -11.2%) then plastics as a material (down -10.5%).

Germany’s Main Imports from Austria

In 2020, Austria’s exports to Germany amounted to $44.3 billion or 3.8% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 74.2% of Germany’s imports from Austria.

  1. Machinery: $7.8 billion
  2. Vehicles: $5.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $3.9 billion
  4. Plastics: $2.4 billion
  5. Iron and steel: $2.1 billion
  6. Pharmaceuticals: $1.6 billion
  7. Aluminum: $1.4 billion
  8. Paper: $1.39 billion
  9. Iron or steel products: $1.38 billion
  10. Wood: $1.3 billion
  11. Medical, technical equipment: $974.7 million
  12. Beverages: $901.7 million
  13. Gems, precious metals: $869 million
  14. Dairy, eggs, honey: $823.3 million
  15. Mineral fuels including oil: $776.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from Austria under the gems and precious metals product category via a 33.6% gain in revenue and beverages (up 10.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -20.7%), mineral fuels including oil (down -12.1%) then vehicles (down -11.7%).

Germany’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, United Kingdom’s exports to Germany amounted to $39.3 billion or 3.4% of overall German imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.6% of Germany’s imports from Britain.

  1. Machinery: $4.6 billion
  2. Vehicles: $4.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $3.3 billion
  4. Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.1 billion
  5. Mineral fuels including oil: $3 billion
  6. Pharmaceuticals: $2.9 billion
  7. Gems, precious metals: $2 billion
  8. Medical, technical equipment: $1.62 billion
  9. Plastics: $1.59 billion
  10. Other chemical goods: $1.4 billion
  11. Organic chemicals: $1.3 billion
  12. Aluminum: $518.6 million
  13. Perfumes, cosmetics: $427.3 million
  14. Iron or steel products: $403.9 million
  15. Beverages: $400.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for German imports from the United Kingdom under the gems and precious metals product category via a 68.4% gain in revenue, then aircraft and spacecraft (up 38.1%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 7.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Germany’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -28.9%), aluminum (down -24.4%), machinery (down -17.5%), beverages (down -15.6%), mineral fuels including oil (down -15.2%) and vehicles (down -13.9%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Austria’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Germany’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Poland’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Germany, Borders of Germany.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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