China still Germany's top trade partner in first quarter, US close behind

BERLIN, May 20 (Reuters) - ‌China remained Germany's ​biggest ​trading partner in the first quarter of 2026, but only narrowly ahead of the United ‌States as German exports to China fell sharply, ⁠according to new calculations.

The figures are based on calculations by Reuters ‌and Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) ‌using preliminary January-March data from the Federal Statistics Office.

• Total trade in goods with China in the first ​quarter was €61.5 billion ($71.33 billion), ahead of €60 billion with the United States and €52.8 billion with the Netherlands. China ⁠only pushed past the United States as Germany's top trade partner in ​2025.

• "Over the course of the year, the United States could move back ahead of China," ​GTAI expert Christina Otte said, referring ‌to the small gap between the two countries.

• German exports to China fell 12.5% ⁠to €18 billion in the first quarter, pushing China down to ninth place among buyers of German goods and risking a ⁠drop out of the top 10 this year, according to GTAI.

• ​Imports from China rose 6.4% to €43.5 billion and could rise further, Otte said, for example if Chinese EV makers benefit from ‌new subsidies in the German market.

• Exports to the U.S. fell by 12% to about €36 ‌billion. The United States remained the biggest market for ⁠German goods, ahead of ‌France with €31.4 billion ​and the Netherlands with €29.1 billion.

($1 = 0.8621 euros)

(Reporting by Rene Wagner, writing by Kirsti KnolleEditing by Tomasz ‌Janowski)

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