Exports to countries outside the European Union fell in April by 5.7 percent compared to the previous month to 56.5 billion euros.
(Photo: IMAGO/Chris Emil Janssen)
Berlin German exports overseas fell again significantly at the beginning of the second quarter due to weaker demand from the USA and China. Exports to countries outside the European Union fell in April by 5.7 percent compared to the previous month to 56.5 billion euros, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on Monday.
This is the second sharp decline in a row, after a calendar and seasonally adjusted drop of 3.4 percent in March. Compared to April 2022, exports also fell by 5.2 percent – with the delivered quantity shrinking twice as much at 10.4 percent.
The USA once again remained the most important buyer of goods “Made in Germany”. Products worth 11.6 billion euros were delivered there in April – a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Exports to the People’s Republic of China, which has now abandoned its strict corona policy, even fell by 9.6 percent to 7.5 billion euros.
Exports to Great Britain fell by 8.1 percent to 5.3 billion euros, those to neighboring Switzerland even by 13.7 percent to 4.6 billion euros.
Exports to Russia – which are suffering from sanctions as a result of the war against Ukraine – fell by 13.6 percent to 0.7 billion euros. As a result, Russia slipped down to 15th place among the most important destinations for German exports outside the EU. In February 2022, before the attack on Ukraine, Russia was fifth.
Trade with the so-called third countries covers almost half of all German exports. The leading indicator thus makes the first results available quickly for an important part of German foreign trade.
According to the statisticians, since business with third countries does not always develop parallel to trade with EU countries, no forecasts for the overall results of foreign trade are possible on this basis.
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