In the first quarter of 2026, Germany achieved an export surplus of €12.4 billion in goods trade with the United States. However, according to data released by Destatis on Thursday, this represents a significant decline of 30.5% compared to the first quarter of 2025, when the surplus was €17.8 billion.
Overall, Germany exported goods worth €36.2 billion to the USA during the first quarter, while imports totaled €23.8 billion. While exports fell by 12.1% year-over-year, imports saw a slight increase of 1.9%. The decline in the export of vehicles and associated parts was the primary factor contributing to the reduced overall trade surplus.
Despite the reduction, the automotive sector remained the largest contributor to the surplus, accounting for €5.0 billion. This figure was 35.5% lower than the €7.8 billion recorded in Q1 2025. In total, Germany exported vehicles and components worth €6.5 billion-a 28.4% drop from the previous year. Conversely, imports in this group increased by 13.2% from the USA, reaching €1.5 billion.
The export surplus in the auto sector varied significantly depending on the vehicle type. For pure battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), the surplus was €0.4 billion (exports dropped 65.7%). Hybrid vehicles contributed a surplus of €0.5 billion (exports dropped 25.4%), while vehicles with combustion engines (excluding hybrids) maintained a surplus of €2.0 billion (exports dropped 17.6%).
Other sectors also delivered positive trade balances internationally. Machinery was a key contributor, posting a surplus of €4.9 billion (exports fell 6.4% year-over-year). Pharmaceutical products generated a surplus of €3.4 billion, and electrical equipment added another surplus of €1.9 billion.
However, the report indicated that Germany ran trade deficits-meaning import surpluses-in certain vital areas. These deficits were concentrated mainly in mineral fuels, such as coal, crude oil, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Crude oil and LNG accounted for the largest deficit, totaling -€3.0 billion for the quarter. Negative trade balances were also reported for coal and coke goods, each recording a deficit of -€0.3 billion.