China Germany Photo:VCG

China overtook the US as Germany's largest trading partner in the first eight months of 2025, regaining the top spot as higher tariffs weighed on German exports to the US, Reuters reported, citing preliminary data from the German statistics office.

German imports and exports with China totaled 163.4 billion euros ($190.7 billion) from January to August, while trade with the US amounted to 162.8 billion euros, according to Reuters calculations.

"China has regained its position as Germany's top trading partner, reflecting its commitment to free trade and multilateralism, as well as complementary strengths of both economies and the mutual benefits of globalization and bilateral economic and trade cooperation, in contrast to the US administration's tariff strategies, which disrupt trade rules and have affected US trade with some other countries, including Germany," Wang Yiwei, director of the Center for European Union Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

With a volume of trade of around 246 billion euros, China was Germany's second-largest trading partner for goods in 2024, and between 2016 and 2023, it was Germany's largest trading partner for goods, according to the official data published on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office. 

The Chinese market is crucial for German companies in the export sector, especially in mechanical engineering, automobiles and auto parts, electrical engineering, and the chemical industry, according to a report published on the website of the German Embassy in Beijing. China and Germany also maintain close cooperation in all major economic and industrial areas, the report said.

The latest reported trade figures between China and Germany reflects the natural outcome of the global division of labor and China's comparative advantages, Wang said. "From automotive manufacturing to pharmaceuticals, China's large market and complete industrial chain complement Germany in high-tech industries, while Chinese companies are actively expanding into the German market. Together, these factors have driven growth in bilateral trade and investment, creating a win-win situation."

Wang noted that emerging areas such as digital and green transitions provide further opportunities for cooperation, making the trade outlook between the two countries very promising.