Presented in descending order, the following list showcases the general product categories under which Germany earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Vehicles: US$154.3 billion (31.2% of all product surpluses)
2. Machinery: $107.9 billion (21.8%)
3. Optical, technical and medical apparatus: $30.6 billion (6.2%)
4. Pharmaceuticals: $30.4 billion (6.2%)
5. Plastics and plastic articles: $18.5 billion (3.7%)
6. Aircraft, spacecraft: $15.4 billion (3.1%)
7. Electronic equipment: $12.9 billion (2.6%)
8. Other chemical goods: $10.1 billion (2%)
9. Articles of iron or steel: $9.7 billion (2%)
10. Paper: $6.9 billion (1.4%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 86.3% of Germany’s overall product-category surplus subtotal which amounted to $494 billion. For that subtotal, 54 of Germany’s 97 general product categories delivered a surplus in 2014.

Germany enriched its trade surplus amounts at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Furskins and artificial fur: Up 6,892% since 2010 (US$30 million)
2. Inorganic chemicals: Up 936.5% ($1.7 billion)
3. Cocoa: Up 760.3% ($1061.6 million)
4. Raw hides, skins excluding furskins and leather: Up 447.9% ($161.6 million)
5. Aircraft, spacecraft: Up 246.9% ($15.4 billion)
6. Rubber and rubber articles: Up 171.5% ($412.4 million)
7. Meat and seafood preparations: Up 132.2% ($498.4 million)
8. Dairy, eggs and honey: Up 118.7% ($3.3 billion)
9. Miscellaneous manufactured articles: Up 106.6% ($1.6 billion)
10. Miscellaneous food preparations: Up 80.3% ($2.7 billion)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that enabled Germany to achieve the highest surpluses in its international trade with other countries.

1. Cars: US$113.9 billion
2. Medication mixes in dosage: $25.4 billion
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $22.4 billion
4. Aircraft, spacecraft: $14 billion
5. Miscellaneous machinery: $9.9 billion
6. Piston engine parts: $8.2 billion
7. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $7.6 billion
8. Tractors: $7.1 billion
9. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $7.1 billion
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $6.8 billion
11. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $6.8 billion
12. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $6.7 billion
13. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $5.8 billion
14. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $5.8 billion
15. Trucks: $5.7 billion

Among these, aircraft and spacecraft had the fastest-growing German surplus with a 92.4% gain since 2010. In second place were tractors up 55.2% while exported automobile parts and accessories moved ahead in value by 39.2%.

Presented in descending order, the following list shows with which trade partners Germany earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. United States: US$61.2 billion (15.8% of German country-specific surpluses)
2. United Kingdom: $55.5 billion (14.4%)
3. France: $45.7 billion (11.8%)
4. Austria: $26.3 billion (6.8%)
5. United Arab Emirates: $14.2 billion (3.7%)
6. Spain: $13.2 billion (3.4%)
7. Poland: $10.6 billion (2.7%)
8. Saudi Arabia: $10.5 billion (2.7%)
9. South Korea: $10.2 billion (2.6%)
10. Sweden: $9.9 billion (2.6%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 66.5% of Germany’s subtotal surplus of $386.8 billion from the 163 geographic entities with which Germany demonstrated competitive trade advantages. That subtotal excludes the 62 trade partners with which Germany incurred trade deficits.

Germany enriched its trade surplus amounts with the countries below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014.

1. Armenia: Up 5,275% since 2010 (US$36.8 million)
2. Pitcairn: Up 3,400% ($0.1 million)
3. Saint Kitts/Nevis: Up 1,821% ($68.4 million)
4. Fiji: Up 1,372% ($8.3 million)
5. British Virgin Islands: Up 618.4% ($152.2 million)
6. Angola: Up 604.1% ($332.2 million)
7. Zambia: Up 473.8% ($77.6 million)
8. Bolivia: Up 437.8% ($32.9 million)
9. St. Pierre/Miquelon: Up 296.3% ($634,000)
10. Macao: Up 243% ($79.7 million)

From the above list, Germany showed major product supply advantages over trade partners with comparatively small populations and for generally small surplus amounts.

Below are the products that gave Germany the highest surpluses in its international trade with the United States.

1. Cars: US$21.4 billion (34.9% of Germany’s surplus versus US)
2. Medication mixes in dosage: $7.2 billion (11.7%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $5.3 billion (8.7%)
4. Piston engine parts: $1.2 billion (2%)
5. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.2 billion (2%)
6. Piston engines: $1.2 billion (1.9%)
7. Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $1.1 billion (1.8%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $1.1 billion (1.7%)
9. Engines (diesel): $1 billion (1.7%)
10. Aircraft, spacecraft: $991.4 million (1.6%)

Among these, medication mixes in dosage had the fastest-growing German surplus with America posting a 101.5% gain. In second place were piston engines up 53.5% and automobile parts and accessories ahead by 26.3% from 2010 to 2014.

Below are the products that gave Germany the highest surpluses in its international trade with the United Kingdom.

1. Cars: $20 billion (36%)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $3 billion (5.3%)
3. Medication mixes in dosage: $2.9 billion (5.2%)
4. Blood fractions (including antisera): $2.7 billion (4.9%)
5. Trucks: US$1.3 billion (2.4% of Germany’s surplus versus UK)
6. Computers, optical readers: $1.2 billion (2.2%)
7. Piston engine parts: $1 billion (1.8%)
8. Printing machinery: $919.1 million (1.7%)
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $913.9 million (1.6%)
10. Aluminum plates, sheets, strips: $891.4 million (1.6%)

Among these, medication mixes in dosage had the fastest-growing German surplus with UK posting a 68.4% gain. In second place was trucks up 64.9% followed by aluminum plates, sheets and strips ahead by 50.8% from 2010 to 2014.

Below are the products that gave Germany the highest surpluses in its international trade with France.

1. Cars: US$7.2 billion (15.7% of Germany’s surplus versus France)
2. Aircraft parts: $3.5 billion (7.6%)
3. Computers, optical readers: $1.2 billion (2.7%)
4. Printing machinery: $1.1 billion (2.4%)
5. Miscellaneous furniture: $966.7 million (2.1%)
6. Tractors: $879.7 million (1.9%)
7. Processed petroleum oils: $796.2 million (1.7%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $708.9 million (1.6%)
9. Medication mixes in dosage: $666.4 million (1.5%)
10. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $657.5 million (1.4%)

Among these, processed petroleum oils had the fastest-growing German surplus with France posting a 682.4% gain. In second place were electrical/optical circuit boards or panels up 45.3% and items such as taps and valves ahead by 30.5% from 2010 to 2014.