Shafaqna English- Official preliminary statistics from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), released on Sunday(9 Aug 2026), indicated that Germany’s trade deficit with China widened considerably between January and June 2026. Interestingly, this expansion occurred even as the Asian economic powerhouse remained Germany’s largest trade partner, suggesting underlying shifts in trade patterns that have not yet affected China’s overall ranking.
The same data set revealed that German exports to China plummeted by more than 12% compared to the same period last year, amounting to just under €37 billion for the January-to-June period. This sharp decline is attributed to Chinese companies actively reducing their dependence on European imports, a strategic shift that has consequently relegated China to the ninth position among Germany’s top export destinations.