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Germany’s exports rose 2 per cent month-on-month to €141.1 billion in September, beating Reuters’ forecast of 0.5 per cent. Stronger shipments to European Union markets drove the increase, while exports to the US and China remained under pressure. However, imports grew faster at 4.2 per cent, narrowing Germany’s trade surplus to €15.6 billion.
Germany’s exports rose more than expected in September, signalling a stronger performance in the country’s foreign trade despite continued weakness in shipments to key markets such as China and the United States.
Exports increased 2 per cent month-on-month to €141.1 billion in calendar and seasonally adjusted terms, according to preliminary data released by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Monday. The increase comfortably exceeded the 0.5 per cent growth forecast by economists polled by Reuters.
On a year-on-year basis, exports grew 7.7 per cent compared with September 2025, highlighting an improvement in Germany’s external trade performance.
European markets drive export growth
Stronger trade with European Union countries emerged as a key contributor to the monthly increase. Exports to EU member states climbed 3.5 per cent from August to €80.8 billion.
Shipments to eurozone countries increased 2.4 per cent to €55.8 billion, while exports to EU members outside the eurozone jumped 6.1 per cent to €25 billion.
In contrast, exports to countries outside the European Union remained largely flat, rising just 0.1 per cent to €60.3 billion.
Germany’s export performance across major global markets was mixed. The United States remained its largest export destination, with shipments worth €13.4 billion, although exports declined 0.5 per cent from August.
More from BusinessExports to China fell 5.2 per cent to €5.5 billion, while shipments to the United Kingdom dropped 4.7 per cent to €7.3 billion.
Imports grow faster, trade surplus narrows
While exports delivered a stronger-than-expected performance, imports grew at an even faster pace, increasing 4.2 per cent month-on-month to €125.5 billion.
Imports from EU member states rose 4.9 per cent to €62.9 billion, while purchases from countries outside the bloc increased 3.6 per cent to €62.7 billion.
China remained Germany’s largest import source, with shipments worth €17.3 billion, up 1.6 per cent from the previous month. Imports from the United States surged 6.2 per cent to €8.8 billion.
The faster growth in imports narrowed Germany’s seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €15.6 billion in September, compared with €17.9 billion in August.
On an unadjusted basis, Germany exported goods worth €148.5 billion and imported €131.1 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of €17.4 billion.
Despite the stronger September numbers, Destatis cautioned that the figures are preliminary and do not provide sufficient detail to explain the reasons behind changes in overall trade or individual country flows.
