Import prices rose by 5.3 percent in April 2026 compared to April 2025. This marked the strongest year-over-year increase since January 2023, matching the pace seen between January 2022 and January 2023. However, the increases were mitigated by other months, with the rate of change reaching +2.3 percent in March 2026 and declining to -2.3 percent in February 2026. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Friday, import prices increased by 1.2 percent compared to the previous month in April 2026.
In contrast, export prices were 2.9 percent higher in April 2026 than in April 2025. This increase was the largest recorded year-over-year increase since March 2023 (+3.3 percent compared to March 2022). Export prices in March 2026 saw a change of +1.5 percent year-over-year, while February 2026 posted -0.1 percent. Moving month-over-month, export prices rose by 0.8 percent compared to March 2026.
The overall growth in import prices during April 2026 was heavily influenced by two key sectors relative to the previous year: input goods, which rose by 7.8 percent (+2.4 percent compared to March 2026), and energy, which soared by 31.0 percent (+2.8 percent compared to March 2026). Energy imports had previously experienced a much sharper year-over-year increase in October 2022 (+63.0 percent).
Detailed analysis of input goods reveals that non-iron metals and semi-finished products were significantly more expensive, rising 27.6 percent year-over-year. Precious metals and their components saw an even steeper rise of 49.9 percent. Furthermore, import prices for fertilizers and nitrogen compounds were substantially higher, up 22.9 percent, a trend attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Middle East, which also drove fertilizer prices up 7.6 percent month-over-month.
The conflicts in the Middle East have also exerted a major impact on fossil fuel prices. Compared to April 2025, the prices for mineral oil products rose by 58.1 percent, crude oil by 47.5 percent, coal by 8.1 percent, and natural gas by 6.9 percent. Looking at the month-over-month comparison with March 2026, nearly all energy carriers were more expensive, including coal (+3.1 percent), crude oil (+7.5 percent), and mineral oil products (+3.1 percent), notably kerosene-derived jet fuel (+2.7 percent). Only natural gas saw a slight price decline, falling 0.4 percent month-over-month.
When excluding the influence of energy prices, import prices in April 2026 rose by 2.8 percent year-over-year (+1.0 percent compared to March 2026). If only crude oil and mineral oil products were excluded, the import price index was 2.9 percent higher than in April 2025 (+0.9 percent compared to March 2026).
Imported capital goods were also more expensive, increasing by 1.5 percent compared to April 2025 and 0.5 percent compared to March 2026.
In agriculture, imported goods were, on average, 4.7 percent cheaper in April 2026 compared to the previous year. Raw cocoa prices were 51.1 percent lower year-over-year, although they rose by 1.3 percent compared to March 2026. Similar savings were seen in live pigs (-17.1 percent), though these animals were significantly more expensive month-over-month (+4.7 percent). Imported raw coffee was 16.6 percent cheaper than a year ago and 1.9 percent cheaper than the previous month. Imported grains were also cheaper year-over-year (-6.1 percent) and saw a minor decrease compared to March 2026 (-0.1 percent). Conversely, tomatoes were significantly more expensive compared to April 2025 (+25.8 percent), though they were cheaper in April 2026 than in March 2026 (-8.5 percent).
For consumer goods (finished and consumption goods), imported prices were 1.4 percent cheaper in April 2026 compared to last year (+0.1 percent compared to March 2026). Specific categories showed slight changes: used goods were 0.2 percent lower than the previous year, and general consumption goods were 1.7 percent cheaper year-over-year. Across all foodstuffs, spending was reduced by 5.4 percent compared to April 2025. Price decreases were noted in cocoa butter, cocoa fat, cocoa oil (-57.2 percent), fruit and vegetable juices (-26.3 percent), milk products (-13.3 percent), and pork (-13.3 percent). However, shelled hazelnuts (+29.7 percent) and beef (+6.6 percent) were more expensive than in April 2025.
Turning to exports, the rise in input goods prices heavily contributed to the year-over-year change in the overall index. Input goods prices averaged 4.3 percent higher than in April 2025 and 1.7 percent higher than in March 2026. Capital goods prices were 1.6 percent above the April 2025 level, and these two categories together account for almost 75 percent of exported goods.
The impacts of the Iran conflict were also evident in exports. Energy export prices were 27.0 percent higher than in April 2025 and 4.0 percent higher than in March 2026. Mineral oil products, in particular, saw a sharp increase of 52.4 percent. While kerosene-derived jet fuel exports were 106.3 percent pricier year-over-year, they were cheaper month-over-month (-2.8 percent). Natural gas was also more expensive compared to April 2025, up 7.9 percent.
Agricultural goods were exported at a lower price by 5.7 percent compared to the previous year. Against March 2026, prices in this sector fell by 0.7 percent.
Consumer goods, which make up about 21 percent of exports, were cheaper compared to April 2025 (-0.3 percent), though they were 0.2 percent more expensive compared to March 2026. Specifically, consumption goods were 0.7 percent cheaper year-over-year (+0.3 percent compared to March 2026), while finished products were 1.7 percent more expensive year-over-year (+0.3 percent compared to March 2026). Regarding exported food, prices dropped by 5.4 percent compared to April 2025 (+0.1 percent compared to March 2026). Cocoa mass, butter, fat, and powder were notably lower by 35.5 percent year-over-year. Milk and dairy products were also significantly cheaper by an average of 11.5 percent compared to one year prior, including butter and other dairy fats, which were 41.3 percent lower than in April 2025. Conversely, fresh and chilled beef was exported at a higher price by 14.3 percent compared to April 2025 (-1.4 percent compared to March 2026, according to statistical data).
