German exports down in January 2025, imports up

In January 2025, German exports fell by 2.5% compared to the previous month, while imports rose by 1.2%. The overall trade balance remains positive but declining.

Wiesbaden, March 10, 2025 - Adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects, German exports fell by 2.5% in January 2025 compared to December 2024, while imports rose by 1.2%. This was reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the basis of preliminary data.

Foreign trade balance remains positive, but declining

In January, a total of 129.2 billion euros worth of goods were exported and 113.1 billion euros worth of goods were imported. This results in a foreign trade surplus of 16.0 billion euros. The balance was therefore well below the figure of EUR 20.7 billion in December 2024 and EUR 25.3 billion in January 2024.

Weaker exports to the EU - third countries stable

Exports to EU countries fell by 4.2%. Trade with the eurozone was particularly affected, with exports falling by 5.0%. Imports from the EU fell by 1.1%.

Trade with third countries was more stable. Exports here only fell by 0.4%, while imports from non-EU countries increased by 3.7%.

Trade with key partner countries

• USA: Exports fell by 4.2% to 13.0 billion euros
• China: Exports down slightly by 0.9% to 6.7 billion euros, imports down by 2.8% to 12.9 billion euros
• United Kingdom: Exports increased by 1.7% to 6.8 billion euros, imports even grew by 18.8% to 3.6 billion euros
• Russia: Exports up 7.2% to 0.6 billion euros, imports down 15.7% to 0.1 billion euros

Year-on-year comparison shows a mixed picture

Exports fell only slightly by 0.1% compared to January 2024, while imports increased by 8.7 The change is particularly evident in the foreign trade balance: a year ago, the trade surplus amounted to 25.3 billion euros; in January 2025, it was only 16.0 billion euros.

The current figures show that global demand for German goods is weakening slightly, while import momentum continues to increase.