Germany’s Iron and Steel Exports to the US Decline Slightly in First Quarter of 2025
According to the German Federal Statistical Office, the country’s exports of iron and steel to the United States for the period of January to April 2025 totalled 1.3 billion euros, a decline of 0.4 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
This decline is less pronounced than the overall decline in Germany’s iron and steel exports, which fell by 4.2 percent to 20.7 billion euros in the same period. The United States imposed additional tariffs of 25 percent on the import of iron, steel, aluminum and related products on March 12, 2025 and increased the tariffs to 50 percent on June 4.
The US accounted for 6.1 percent of Germany’s total iron and steel exports in the first four months of 2025, ranking sixth among the country’s major export markets. The majority of Germany’s iron and steel exports, however, went to countries within the European Union, with Poland, France and the Netherlands being the top three destinations.
In 2024, Germany had exported iron and steel products worth 60.6 billion euros, with the US ranking fifth among the country’s major export markets, accounting for 6.2 percent of the total exports.
Germany’s aluminum exports, on the other hand, increased by 8.0 percent to 6.4 billion euros in the first four months of 2025, with the majority of the exports going to EU member states, particularly France, Austria and Poland. The US, which accounted for 3.4 percent of Germany’s total aluminum exports, ranked tenth among the country’s major export markets.
In 2024, Germany had exported aluminum and related products worth 17.7 billion euros, with the US ranking eleventh among the country’s major export markets, accounting for 3.8 percent of the total exports.
Germany’s imports of iron and steel, including from the US, decreased by 4.4 percent to 17.0 billion euros in the first four months of 2025, while aluminum imports rose by 8.2 percent to 7.0 billion euros, with the US being a significant importer of both products.