Germany is highly interlinked with the global economy

Germany is highly interlinked with the global economy.

Every second euro is earned by exports.

Germany is an industrialised nation with strong international links and a pronounced export focus. In the annual World Trade Organization (WTO) rankings، Germany regularly places among the three largest exporters behind China and the USA. In 2017، the foreign trade balance closed with a surplus of 245 billion euros. Exports by German companies (goods and services) amounted to 1،279 billion euros، with the value of imports totalling 1،034 billion euros. Germany is strongly integrated in the global economy and benefits from free trade and open markets. The World Economic Forum’s “Global Competitive Index 2017-2018” ranks Germany fifth in the list of the most competitive countries. In all، 137 economies were rated.

dpa/Ole Spata

Every second euro earned in Germany is generated through an international business transaction. Almost one job in four is dependent on exports; in industry it is even one in two. Over one million companies engage in foreign trade. In 2015، 720،000 corpor­ations imported goods from other countries، while approximately 360،000 were busy as exporters. Some 10،700 firms domiciled outside Germany played a significant role in German foreign trade; the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) estimates that more than 7 million employees work for German companies abroad.

In terms of exports، the emphasis is on ­motor vehicles and automotive components، machines، chemical products، and IT appliances and electronic products. These four product groups account for a good half of German exports. Overall، the export ratio has since 1991 almost doubled، rising from 23.7 percent to 47.3 percent. In 2017 the ­foreign trade ratio، i.e.، the sum total of imports and exports in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP)، stood at 86.9 percent. This makes Germany’s economy the “most open” of the G7 countries. By way of comparison، in 2015 the USA had a foreign trade ratio of 28 percent.

The partner countries in the European ­Union (EU) are the most important market for German goods and attract 56 percent of all exports. France is traditionally Germany’s largest export market، though since 2015 the USA has headed the list، followed by the People’s Republic of China، the Netherlands، and Great Britain. With regard to imports، however، the rankings run the other way round: In 2017 most imports came from China، the Netherlands، France، the USA، and Italy. Although in some cases growth rates are weakening، nevertheless economic and trade relations with Asian countries are becoming ever more important and today 5،000 German companies have investments in China alone.

German direct investments abroad، which since 1990 have increased fivefold to over one trillion euros (2015)، are an expression of its strong links within the global economy. A fifth of the total was invested in Euroland. On the other hand، some 80،000 foreign companies employ more than 3.7 million people in Germany. The value of foreign direct investments stands at 466 billion euros.

The trade-fair industry is regarded as the hub of world trade. Germany is the leading trade-fair centre when it comes to organising and staging international trade fairs. Two thirds of globally important industry events are held in Germany. Every year، 10 million visitors attend around 150 international trade fairs and exhibitions.

At the same time Germany is a transhipment hub for the flow of goods in Europe and the world as a whole. More goods transit through Germany than through any other EU country. About a third of the turnover in the ten most important logistics markets in the EU is generated in Germany، with 3 million people involved in logistics. The Port of Hamburg، where around 9 million standard containers are processed each year، is a gateway to the world.

Commitment to fair and

free global trade

Germany supports open markets and fair، free trade based on clear and reliable regulations. Among other things، the country pursues these goals with the three pillars for 
the promotion of foreign trade. These include 227 German diplomatic missions abroad، 130 German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK)، delegations، and repre­sentative offices of the German economy in 90 countries، and Germany Trade and ­Invest (GTAI)، the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. They all help small and medium-sized ­enterprises penetrate new markets and ­endeavour to improve framework conditions.

Germany is involved in shaping globalisation in various ways، be it through formulating regulations for international trade، regulating financial markets، or managing cash and foreign currency. Given failed multilateral negotiations (the Doha Development Round)، close attention is being paid to bilateral EU free trade agreements. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force in 2017 and negotiations on a free trade agreement with Japan have been concluded; the only thing not yet agreed upon is investment protection. The EU Free Trade Agreement with South Korea، the first with an Asian country، has been in force since 2011; since that time exports to South Korea have risen each year by some 10 percent. In 2015 the EU and Vietnam adopted a free trade agreement، the first of its kind between the EU and a developing country.

https://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/chapter/business-innovation/global-player