Germany imported US$1.425 trillion worth of products from around the world in 2024, up by 21.5% compared to $1.173 trillion during 2020.

Year over year, the total cost of Germany’s imported goods declined by -3% from $1.47 billion in 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, Germany uses the euro which flatlined via a 0.02% gain against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. The stronger European Union currency made Germany’s imports paid for in modestly weaker US dollars in 2024 relatively more expensive than in 2023 when converted starting from euros.

German imports represent 5.9% of all globally imported goods which totaled an estimated $23.968 trillion one year earlier in 2023, up from 5.8% one year prior.

Domestically, the inflation rate for Germany’s average consumer prices was 2.374% in 2024 down from an average 6.03% for 2023.

Germany’s 5 biggest imported products by value in 2024 were cars, crude oil, automobile parts or accessories, blood fractions including antisera, then medication mixes in dosage. Collectively, that quintet of leading imports represents 16.7% of Germany’s total spending on imported goods during 2024.

Germany’s Main Imported Products Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 70.8% of products imported into Germany was supplied by exporters in: mainland China (35.6% of the German total), Netherlands (7.5%), United States of America (5.2%), Poland (5.1%), Italy (4%), France (2.8%), Czech Republic (2.7%), Switzerland (2.2%), Austria (also 2.2%), Belgium (1.8%), Spain (1.7%) and United Kingdom (1.3%).

Applying a continental lens, almost two-thirds (61.9%) of Germany’s total imports by value in 2024 was purchased from fellow European countries. Trade partners in Asia satisfied 25.3% of import purchases by Germany while another 8.2% worth of goods originated from providers located in North America.

Smaller percentages came from shippers in Africa (2.5%), Latin America (16%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia.

Germany is also a key member of the European Union. By value, EU member states furnished 52.7% of overall German imports.

Given Germany’s population of 84.8 million people, its total $1.425 trillion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $16,800 in yearly product demand from every person in the European republic. That per-capita amount lags the average $17,500 one year earlier in 2023.

Germany’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Germany’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Germany.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$202.7 billion (14.2% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $174.4 billion (12.2%)
3. Vehicles: $146.5 billion (10.3%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $118.3 billion (8.3%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $78.5 billion (5.5%)
6. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $50 billion (3.5%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $49.4 billion (3.5%)
8. Organic chemicals: $41.7 billion (2.9%)
9. Iron, steel: $28.9 billion (2.0%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $27.4 billion (1.9%)

Germany’s top 10 import product categories accounted for 64.4% of the overall value of German product purchases from other countries.

The fastest-growing top categories from 2023 to 2024 were Germany’s imports of pharmaceuticals (up 6.7%) then the optical, technical and medical apparatus product category (up 1%).

The severest decliners for Germany were imports of mineral fuels including oil via a -11.4% reduction from 2023 and the metals iron or steel weighed down by a -9.7% retreat.

Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the sections below.

Germany’s Best Electronics Imports

In 2024, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical equipment including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$25 billion (down -7% from 2023)
2. Electric storage batteries: $23.3 billion (down -11.4%)
3. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $18.5 billion (down -26.5%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $14.6 billion (down -2.5%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $12.4 billion (down -14.2%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $11.2 billion (down -3%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $8.9 billion (down -6.7%)
8. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $7.8 billion (down -29.8%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $7.4 billion (up 1.2%)
10. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $5.8 billion (up 7.5%)

Among these import subcategories, German purchases of electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 7.5%) then electric motors and generators (up 1.2%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among German businesses and consumers.

Germany’s Best Machinery Imports

In 2024, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$28.5 billion (up 12.4% from 2023)
2. Turbo-jets: $15.6 billion (up 4.6%)
3. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $8 billion (up 1.2%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $7.9 billion (down -3.7%)
5. Printing machinery: $7.7 billion (down -0.1%)
6. Piston engine parts: $6.4 billion (down -4.9%)
7. Miscellaneous machinery: $6.4 billion (down -0.4%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $6.2 billion (down -6.9%)
9. Air or vacuum pumps: $5.6 billion (down -5.9%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $5.3 billion (down -4.7%)

Among these import subcategories, German purchases of computers including optical readers (up 12.4%), turbo-jets (up 4.6%) then taps, valves and similar appliances (up 1.2%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among German businesses and consumers.

Germany’s Best Vehicles Imports

In 2024, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$71.3 billion (down -8.7% from 2023)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $46.8 billion (down -0.1%)
3. Trucks: $8.1 billion (down -18.4%)
4. Tractors: $3.5 billion (down -31.4%)
5. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $2.7 billion (down -18.3%)
6. Motorcycles: $2.7 billion (down -17.6%)
7. Trailers: $2.6 billion (down -14.5%)
8. Public-transport vehicles: $1.3 billion (down -7.3%)
9. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $777.4 million (down -28.6%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $467.2 million (down -18.3%)

Among these import subcategories, German purchases of automobile parts or accessories posted the mildest decline from 2023 to 2024 via a -0.1% slowdown.

These amounts and the percentages within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among German businesses and consumers.

Germany’s Best Mineral Fuels Imports

In 2024, German importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Crude oil: US$48.4 billion (up 6.3% from 2023)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $26.9 billion (down -16.7%)
3. Petroleum gases: $24.6 billion (down -22.3%)
4. Electrical energy: $7.2 billion (down -1.1%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $5.1 billion (down -27.4%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1.3 billion (up 14%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $913.1 million (down -24.6%)
8. Petroleum oil residues: $324.1 million (down -24.9%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $305.6 million (up 15.1%)
10. Peat: $105.4 million (up 8.5%)

Among these import subcategories, German purchases of petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 15.1%), high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 14%) then peat (up 8.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among German businesses and consumers.
 

 

See also Germany’s Top 10 Exports, Germany’s Top Trading Partners, Top German Trade Balances and Germany’s Top 10 Major Export Companies

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 18, 2025

Imported Consumer Products, Germany’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products. Accessed on March 18, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 18, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 18, 2025

X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Euro to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on March 18, 2025