After four consecutive years in deficit, the European Union recorded a €23 billion surplus in high-tech trade with non-EU partners in 2024, compared to a €15 billion deficit in 2023. According to Eurostat, exports of high-tech goods grew by 8.1% to €501 billion, while imports edged down slightly to €478 billion. Pharmaceuticals, electronics, and aerospace were the main growth drivers, with the United States and the United Kingdom acting as the largest external markets.
The shift highlights how Europe’s high-tech sector has regained competitiveness on the global stage despite headwinds from geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities. For Germany, the largest high-tech manufacturing hub in the EU with nearly 9,000 firms and over 660,000 employees in the sector, the surplus underscores both opportunity and responsibility: Berlin’s ability to innovate, invest in R&D, and stabilize supply chains will shape how sustainable this recovery becomes.
Read more about the trade surplus on Eurostat.