From a global trade perspective, the overall value of Germany’s exports increased in value by 12.3% from US$1.324 trillion in 2015 to $1.486 trillion during 2019. From 2018 to 2019, Germany’s exported goods depreciated by -4.5%.
In the analysis below, we compare 10 of Germany’s top exports-dependent companies based on asset values, sales and profitability as of December 2019. Also specified is the German city where each business has its headquarters.
Germany’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
- Assets
- Sales
- Profit
- Headquarters
Assets
Below are Germany’s biggest exports-related companies organized by asset value. Shown within parentheses is the primary industry in which each company operates. Also shown is the change in asset value as of December 2019 compared to one year earlier.
- Volkswagen Group (car/truck maker): US$538.9 billion, up 1.4% from 2018
- Daimler (car/truck maker): $326.6 billion, up 1.1%
- BMW Group (car/truck maker): $271.3 billion, up 12.4%
- Siemens (industrial conglomerate): $171 billion, up 4.7%
- Bayer (diversified chemicals): $137.7 billion, up 48.5%
- BASF (diversified chemicals): $101.3 billion, up 2.4%
- Linde (diversified chemicals): $86.6 billion, up 112.3%
- Merck (pharmaceuticals): $84.4 billion, up 94.6%
- Fresenius (medical equipment, supplies): $75.2 billion, up 14.3%
- ThyssenKrupp Group (industrial conglomerate): $40.4 billion, down -0.7%
Nine of these German businesses grew their asset values from 2018 to 2019, led by diversified chemicals firm Linde via its 112.3% expansion. Asset growth was 94.9% for pharmaceuticals competitor Merck trailed by a 48.5% gain for diversified chemicals producer Bayer, a 14.3% improvement for medical equipment supplier Fresenius and a 12.4% increase for automotive industry BMW.
The lone decline in assets year over year belongs to industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp Group via its -0.7% retreat.
Sales
Profit
Headquarters
Note: Some of the above company offerings may include products other than the principal category shown within parenthesis under the Assets tab.
For example, Siemens is an industrial conglomerate that distributes systems for medical diagnosis, power generation and transmission including wind turbines.
Similarly, Merck manufactures pharmaceutical, medical and chemical products for applications such as consumer electronics, lighting, coatings, printing plastics and cosmetics.
See also Germany’s Top 10 Exports, Germany’s Top 10 Imports and Top German Trade Balances
Research Sources:
Data.World Forbes Global 2000 2016 , Spreadsheet for 2016 Global 2000 rankings. Accessed on August 27, 2020
Forbes Global 2000 individual company profiles, Example of top German company compiled for this study: Volkswagen Group. Accessed on August 27, 2020
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on August 27, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 27, 2020
Wikipedia, Category: Companies of Germany. Accessed on August 27, 2020
Wikipedia, List of companies of Germany. Accessed on August 27, 2020