Germany International Trade

Germany is the third largest exporter and importer in the world. In 2013, Germany recorded the world's highest trade surplus at about $260 billion. In 2012 the value of exports was recorded at $1.492 trillion. Germany's primary exports are motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and plastic products. The European Union accounts for 58.2% of Germany's total exports, followed by United States (7%), China (6.1%), and Switzerland (4.5%). The value of imports in 2012 was $1.276 trillion. Primary imports include machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals, electric equipment, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, agricultural products. The European Union is the primary import partner (58.2%), followed by China (8.9%), U.S. (5.5%), and Switzerland (4.2%). 

The currency of Germany is the Euro. The current exchange rate between the U.S. dollar is: $1= 1.38 Euros. This means that the U.S. goods are cheaper to purchase abroad and cheaper to import. In addition, German goods are more expensive for Americans traveling to Germany. Since the financial crisis, the Euro has consistently been worth more than the U.S. dollar.

Germany has the third largest percentage of migrants world wide at 5%. Most of the immigrants come from other European countries including: Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and Greece. Many Turkish people migrate to Germany, but Turkish Germans immigrating to Turkey is greater than the former. 

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Germany was at conflict with the world. It was the primary instigator in both World War I and World War II. After the fall of Nazi Germany, Germany was split into East and West Germany with the former communist and the latter democratic. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of the Cold War, German relations with other countries have been relatively stable and it has been established as an economic superpower.