Headlines
German exports expected to fall 2.5% this year, says BGA trade lobby
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 11, 2025
Editorial & Advertiser disclosure
Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.
By Maria Martinez
BERLIN (Reuters) -German exports are expected to slump 2.5% this year as the sector faces "massive pressure" from weakening global demand, higher domestic costs and rising protectionism, the BGA trade association warned on Thursday.
Citing a new survey, BGA president Dirk Jandura said the group's foreign trade climate indicator remains deep in negative territory, with many firms reporting stagnant or falling sales.
"The situation remains fragile," Jandura said. "Foreign trade will remain the engine of our economy only if policymakers act decisively now."
The BGA also foresees imports jumping 4.5% in 2025.
Jandura pointed to trade tensions with the United States and China, higher tariffs, stricter supply chain rules and tighter export controls as factors eroding competitiveness and piling on costs.
Headwinds caused by U.S. tariffs were one factor behind leading German economic institutes' decision this month to trim growth forecasts for 2025 for Germany's export-reliant economy.
Jandura said many of the latest U.S. tariffs were so high that they made business "simply impossible" for some German exporters, effectively shutting them out of the U.S. market.
The U.S. was Germany's biggest trading partner in 2024 with two-way goods trade totalling 253 billion euros ($277.84 billion).
Nearly 60% of respondents said they were directly or indirectly negatively affected by the measures, said the BGA.
Additionally, 67% of the companies surveyed cited high extra costs from reporting requirements, which Jandura said were gradually destroying Europe's competitiveness.
(Reporting by Maria Martinez, Editing by Miranda Murray)