In March 2026, Germany recorded a rise in exports of 0.5 percent and imports of 5.1 percent compared to February 2026, after being seasonally and calendar-adjusted. Compared to the previous year, March 2025, both exports rose by 1.9 percent and imports rose by 7.2 percent, according to preliminary figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
In total, goods worth 135.8 billion euros were exported from Germany and goods worth 121.5 billion euros were imported in March 2026, after adjustments. This resulted in a trade surplus of 14.3 billion euros. This surplus was a decrease from the 19.6 billion euro surplus recorded in February 2026, and a decrease from the 19.9 billion euro surplus in March 2025.
Within the European Union (EU), exports to member states totaled 78.4 billion euros, and imports were worth 61.0 billion euros. Compared to February 2026, EU exports increased by 3.4 percent and imports increased by 3.0 percent. Within the Eurozone, goods were exported worth 54.8 billion euros (+4.1 percent), while goods imported were worth 40.8 billion euros (+1.7 percent). For EU member states outside the Eurozone, exports amounted to 23.6 billion euros (+1.7 percent), and imports were worth 20.1 billion euros (+5.7 percent).
Turning to the rest of the world (third countries), exports worth 57.4 billion euros were recorded, with imports valued at 60.5 billion euros. Compared to February 2026, exports to third countries saw a decline of 3.3 percent, while imports from these regions rose by 7.4 percent.
The United States was by far the largest destination for German exports. Exports to the US reached 11.2 billion euros in March 2026, which was 7.9 percent less than the previous month. This represented a significant decrease of 21.4 percent compared to March 2025. (The most drastic year-over-year fall in US exports occurred previously in June 2020, at -27.4 percent compared to June 2019). Meanwhile, exports to the United Kingdom rose by 3.2 percent compared to the month before, reaching 7.4 billion euros. Exports to the People’s Republic of China fell by 1.8 percent compared to February 2026, amounting to 6.0 billion euros.
The People’s Republic of China was again the primary source of imports. Imports from China totaled 15.6 billion euros, an increase of 4.9 percent over the previous month. Imports from the United States declined by 3.7 percent to 8.0 billion euros. Imports from the United Kingdom, conversely, rose significantly by 11.7 percent to 3.5 billion euros in the same period.
When looking at non-adjusted figures (nominal basis), Germany exported goods worth 150.3 billion euros and imported goods worth 130.4 billion euros in March 2026. This marked a 6.9 percent increase in exports and an 11.1 percent increase in imports compared to March 2025. The unadjusted trade balance consequently finished with a surplus of 19.8 billion euros.
