Due to customs duties and export restrictions, the German economy slowed down in trade with the US and China. It sees large possible in trade with the countries of Central and east Europe and South-East Europe. In particular, trade with Poland is developing perfectly – the East German Economy Commission in Berlin informed.
The volume of trade between Germany and Poland increased by EUR 4.6 billion in the first half of this year, reaching a evidence level of over EUR 90 billion. This was 5.4% more than in the same period last year.
Poland in 5th place
While German exports to Poland increased by more than 2.6 billion euros (+5.7%), imports from Poland to Germany increased by 2 billion euros (+5.2%). Poland is now Germany's 5th most crucial trading partner, just behind France.
Germany's most crucial trading partner in the first half of 2025 remained the United States, ahead of China and the Netherlands. However, German exports to Poland (EUR 49.4 billion) already exceeded exports to China (41.4 billion).
"Great success"
“Germany and Poland have been a large success together since the enlargement of the European Union in 2004,” said the president of the east Commission of the German Economy, Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser. She added that the lessons to be drawn from this are that bilateral problems request to be further addressed in peace and in close cooperation make the EU.
According to the data of the German national Statistical Office, current controls at the Polish-German border did not initially have a negative impact on the trade balance. However, BGL's logistics association called for peculiar regulations on the handling of trucks to guarantee the supply of the population and economy.
According to statistic on road tolls, only in 2024 more than 9.7 million entry and departures of trucks paying road tolls were recorded at German-Polish border crossings.
Increase in exports to Ukraine
According to the Commission's data, German exports to Ukraine besides increased in the first half of this year – up to €4.6 billion.
– Supporting and rebuilding Ukraine remains the central tasks of European politics and business," commented Catharina Claas-Mühlhäuser.
– The engagement of the private sector and capital in reconstruction depend on a legally safe environment. The task of Ukrainian politicians is to build trust alternatively than undermine it," she added, referring to fresh controversy surrounding the fight against corruption in Ukraine.
Czech Republic – growth, Hungary – decline
Germany's trade with the Czech Republic has besides developed positively – rising by 3.4% to 57.8 billion euros in the first half of the year. German exports to the Czech neighbour increased by 1.6% to €26.6 billion, while German imports from the Czech Republic increased by 5% to 31.2 billion.
The balance with Slovakia remained mostly stable, but trade with Hungary suffered from measures taken by Viktor Orban's government. The German-Hungarian trade volume fell by 3.7% to EUR 33.4 billion.
Trade with Russia down
The effects of the Russian attack on Ukraine stay visible, as reported by the east Commission. In the first half of this year German-Russian trade again recorded a decrease of almost 13%. Of the 29 countries of the full east region, Russia fell to 12th place and was overtaken by Serbia, Croatia and Lithuania.
The importance of economical growth in Germany as a consequence of trade with the east of the continent can be seen from data. In the first half of the year German exports totalled a decrease of 0.1% to EUR 786 billion. In turn, exports to 29 countries throughout the east region and Central Asia increased by 2.2% to 144 billion euro.
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