By Rene Wagner
BERLIN, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Germany's trade deficit with China widened in the first half of 2026, even as the Asian powerhouse remained its top trade partner, preliminary data from state-run agency Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) showed on Sunday.
German exports to China fell over 12% year-on-year to just under €37 billion between January and June, the data showed, as Chinese firms cut reliance on European imports, making China only the ninth-biggest market for German goods.
As recently as 2021, China was the second-biggest export market. That year, Germany sold China merchandise worth €104 billion, despite the effects of the pandemic.
Now, German manufacturing is struggling with both U.S. tariffs and Chinese competition, triggering major job cuts at bulwarks of industry such as carmaker Volkswagen.
#trade
BERLIN, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Germany's trade deficit with China widened in the first half of 2026, even as the Asian powerhouse remained its top trade partner, preliminary data from state-run agency Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) showed on Sunday.
German exports to China fell over 12% year-on-year to just under €37 billion between January and June, the data showed, as Chinese firms cut reliance on European imports, making China only the ninth-biggest market for German goods.
As recently as 2021, China was the second-biggest export market. That year, Germany sold China merchandise worth €104 billion, despite the effects of the pandemic.
Now, German manufacturing is struggling with both U.S. tariffs and Chinese competition, triggering major job cuts at bulwarks of industry such as carmaker Volkswagen.
#trade
3 months ago
