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German exports fell unexpectedly in August, dragged down by a fifth consecutive decline in shipments to the United States, according to official data released on Thursday.
The figures highlight the growing impact of Washington’s tariffs on the European Union’s largest economy.
Provisional data from the federal statistics agency, Destatis, showed that overall exports slipped by 0.5 per cent compared to the previous month, defying analysts’ expectations of a 0.3 per cent rise, as forecast by financial data firm FactSet.
Exports to the United States — Germany’s largest trading partner outside the EU — dropped by 2.5 per cent to €10.9 billion (£9.3 billion), marking their lowest level since November 2021. Year-on-year, exports to the world’s biggest economy were down around 20 per cent.
The decline follows a July agreement between US President Donald Trump and the European Union that imposed most tariffs on EU goods at 15 per cent — significantly higher than the rates in place before Trump’s return to office earlier this year.
The tariff increase has hit export-driven Germany particularly hard, with key sectors such as automotive, machinery, and pharmaceuticals facing reduced demand in the US market.
The levies have compounded existing economic pressures, as Germany continues to struggle with a prolonged industrial slowdown and subdued global demand.
In total, German exports were valued at €129.7 billion in August. Imports also dropped by 1.3 per cent to €112.5 billion, with China remaining the country’s main source of foreign goods.
The decline in imports resulted in Germany’s trade surplus widening to €17.2 billion.
