Fresh data from Destatis, released on February 6, 2026, presents a striking duality in Germany’s economic closure for 2025. On the trade front, December outperformed all expectations with a 4.0% surge in exports, reaching €133.3 billion and helping the country achieve 1.0% annual growth after two years of stagnation. This rebound was fueled by a significant 10.7% jump in exports to China and a resilient 8.9% increase in shipments to the United States, despite the 15% baseline tariffs implemented during the second half of the year. For the full year, the foreign trade surplus reached €202.8 billion, underscoring the enduring global demand for the „Made in Germany“ brand.
However, the industrial production data for the same period offers a sharp corrective to this export optimism. Real output in manufacturing declined by 1.9% in December, far exceeding analyst forecasts of a minor dip. This contraction was driven primarily by a steep 8.9% drop in automotive production and a 6.8% fall in machinery, highlighting the structural „friction“ between high global demand and domestic manufacturing constraints. For the diplomatic community, this paradox is the defining challenge of 2026: while Germany remains a global export powerhouse, its industrial heart is grappling with high energy costs and a difficult transition in the automotive sector, making fiscal stimulus and infrastructure investment—such as the new €500 billion Special Fund—more critical than ever for domestic stabilization.
Read the detailed data regarding Germany’s economy on Destatis and QNA.