Germany's trade deficit with China widens in first half of 2026

Germany's trade deficit with China widened in the first half of 2026, as exports to China declined while imports continued to rise, Report informs, citing Reuters.

Preliminary data from Germany Trade & Invest showed that German exports to China fell by more than 12% year-on-year to just under €37 billion from January through June. As a result, China dropped to ninth place among Germany's export markets, although it had ranked second as recently as 2021.

At the same time, German imports from China rose 8.9% to €91.8 billion. Germany's trade deficit with China increased to about €55 billion in the first half of the year, compared with €40 billion in the same period last year.

Experts cited by Reuters linked the decline in German exports to China's weak domestic economy, the growing focus of Chinese companies on domestic value chains, and the fact that German firms are increasingly producing inside China itself.

China remained Germany's top trading partner, with total bilateral trade exceeding €128 billion in the first half of 2026.