China has overtaken the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner, with total trade reaching €251bn in 2025.
The figure marks a 2.2% increase from the previous year and comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares for his first official visit to Beijing.
Germany imported €170.6bn in goods from China but exported only €81.3bn, highlighting a wide trade imbalance.
Trade with the US fell to €240bn, a 5% drop partly linked to American tariffs.
Merz will meet Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping during the two-day trip.
He is expected to discuss Ukraine, human rights and economic relations.
A delegation of business leaders, including BMW chief Oliver Zipse, will accompany him.
Germany’s car industry remains deeply tied to the Chinese market.
Companies such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz rely heavily on Chinese production and sales.
The EU is trying to reduce dependence on China for critical materials and manufacturing.
However, Berlin’s need to protect its automotive sector has made its trade policy more cautious.
