In October 2025, Germany’s export growth barely registered increasing just 0.1% month-on-month to €131.3 billion — even as sales to major partners such as United States and China plunged.
Exports to the United States, Germany’s top single export destination, fell by about 7.8% compared with September. At the same time, shipments to China dropped nearly 5.8–6%, as weakening Chinese demand and rising domestic competition weighed heavily on German exporters.
Trade with other European Union countries provided a small cushion: shipments within the EU rose around 2.7%, helping offset some of the decline from key global markets.
What’s driving the slump in German
Weak demand and rising competition in China With China’s economy slowing and local manufacturing ramping up, German firms are seeing reduced orders and tougher competition.
Global trade headwinds and shifting supply-chains Broader global economic slowdown, changing trade patterns, and shifting supply-chains are also contributing to export weakness. Experts warn that the export sector may struggle to act as a growth engine for Germany in the near future.
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