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A BMW assembly line in Germany
Image: Sven Hoppe/picture alliance/dpaImage: Sven Hoppe/picture alliance/dpa

German economy

The Germany economy is highly advanced and the largest in Europe. On a global scale it is the third biggest. Its top five exports are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products and electrical equipment.

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All Content on this topic

A worker runs his hand over the body of an ID.3 electric car at the Volkswagen factory

German industrial orders decline amid weak foreign demand

The fifth consecutive decline in factory orders points to "subdued" industrial activity in the coming months.
BusinessJuly 4, 2024
A Nigerien soldier drinks water from a water pipe in Niamey, Niger

Sahel: Navigating Germany's development cooperation

Grassroots groups and German partners are seeking renewed cooperation amid the military juntas in Africa's Sahel region.
PoliticsJune 27, 2024
China | Besuch Wirtschaftsminister Habeck in Peking

Germany's Habeck navigates delicate China mission

Trade tensions between the EU and Beijing overshadow the German vice-chancellor's first trip to China and South Korea.
PoliticsJune 22, 2024
A "Final Sale" sign written in English, outside a German supermarket belonging to the KaDeWe group that filed for bankruptcy

Germany sees company bankruptcies soar

A tough financial climate impacted by global events is believed to have irreparably damaged many firms.
BusinessJune 14, 2024
Container ships near a German Bight

German exports gather pace, boosting recovery hopes

Germany's export market appears to be on the mend, with shipments out of the country once again showing monthly growth.
PoliticsJune 7, 2024
Berlin | Beginn 75. Ordentlicher Bundesparteitag der FDP

Germany faces challenge as 2025 tax forecast sinks

Finance Minister Christian Lindner said it was clear that the public sector would have to tighten its belt.
PoliticsMay 16, 2024
Billboards showing CDU and SPD election posters

EU election: Immigration top concern in Germany

Polls for the European Parliament elections will close on June 9. German voters are showing little interest.
PoliticsMay 3, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere at the Siemens booth during the 2024 Hanover Messe where artificial intelligence was a key topic

AI: Why German firms are lagging behind

One survey suggests 40% of German companies have no plans to implement artificial intelligence into their processes.
BusinessMay 2, 202402:23 min
Cell fuel stacks on display

Germany's energy transition: Can a new hydrogen scheme help?

Can Germany fuel the country's ambitious push for hydrogen and avoid raising fresh debt at the same time?
BusinessApril 30, 2024
Robot production line at a BMW plant

Germany's economy shows slight upturn, raising hopes

The latest figures give some hope that Germany may be escaping the economic doldrums.
BusinessApril 30, 2024
Crowded street in shopping area of Munich, Germany

German consumer confidence hits two-year high

Consumer confidence rose for the third month in a row in Europe's largest economy, according to market research.
BusinessApril 25, 2024
A welder at a German company

Germany tops list of non-English-speaking job destinations

Many foreigners are eager to work in Germany, but few people in Germany are looking to leave the country for a job.
SocietyApril 24, 2024
Production line Volkswagen plant in Zwickau

Germany's industrial production expected to sink further

Germany's usually strong manufacturing sector had already taken a hit because of higher energy prices.
BusinessApril 22, 2024
IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas

IMF cuts growth outlook for Germany

The International Monetary Fund has revised down its growth outlook for the eurozone's biggest economy.
BusinessApril 16, 2024
A BMW factory in Dingolfing, Bavaria, Germany pictured on July 21, 2023

Third of German firms skeptical about 2024 — survey

Interest rates, sluggish global growth and wars in Ukraine and Gaza have all led to a negative outlook, a survey found.
BusinessApril 13, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits a Chinese research project

Germany-China talks: Chancellor Olaf Scholz's juggling act

The German chancellor will need to balance economic interests against political issues during his talks with Xi Jinping.
ConflictsApril 13, 2024
A shopping trolley full of food with a receipt

German food and energy prices fall, inflation sinks to 2.2%

Food prices fell for the first time in more than 9 years, with energy costs dropping even more.
BusinessApril 12, 2024
An aerial photo of the container terminals Eurogat and Burchardkai in the Port of Hamburg

German ports to receive security and competitiveness boost

Growing threats and lagging competitiveness have prompted Germany to start work on a national port strategy.
BusinessApril 10, 2024
A passenger looks on as multiple flights are cancelled from the schedule

German airports reach agreement to end strike action

Airport operators in Germany have reached an agreement with security staff after a series of major strikes.
BusinessApril 8, 2024
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni waves to supporters

Will Italy replace Germany as Europe's economic powerhouse?

Italy is experiencing continued economic growth. Are Giorgia Meloni's policies finally pushing the country ahead?
BusinessApril 3, 2024
A man inspecting the paint job on a Porsche in a light tunnel in Leipzig

German car industry regains some confidence

German carmakers are seeing the future in a rosier light than last month, a leading economic institute says.
BusinessApril 3, 2024
The departures board at Cologne-Bonn Airport shows a series of cancelled or diverted flights amid a security staff strike. March 14, 2024.

German economic institutes cut 2024 growth forecast to 0.1%

A combined report from leading economic think tanks in Germany has revised 2024 growth forecasts from 1.2% down to 0.1%.
BusinessMarch 27, 2024
Olaf Scholz and others gathered as they press the button on the groundbreaking

Northvolt launches electric car battery plant in Germany

Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the project as a model for Germany and Europe's industrial futures.
BusinessMarch 25, 2024
A person walks in an empty Cologne main train station during a nationwide strike called by German's train drivers union GDL

Will Germany's wave of strikes stifle economic growth?

As labor unrest sweeps across Europe's biggest economy, how big a blow will this deal to Germany's recovery?
BusinessMarch 14, 2024
Germany'sDAXstock market index tops 18,000 for first time

Germany's DAX stock index tops 18,000 for first time

While German economy has struggled recently, its blue-chip stock index, the DAX, continue to record highs.
BusinessMarch 13, 2024
A bull statue stands in front of the building of the German stock exchange in Frankfurt,

Why German stock index DAX breaks record as recession looms

Confidence in Germany's 40 biggest firms has little to do with sentiment on the ground.
BusinessMarch 13, 2024
A WV employee monitors the production of electric car batteries, in Salzitter, Germany, on September 23, 2019

Will Germany face a rare earths shortage?

The raw materials needed for the green transition are in the hands of rivals, including China and Russia.
TradeMarch 11, 2024
Trains sit inactive at Frankfurt main train station

Germany: Dual rail and air strikes affect 'millions'

Passengers face disruption amid separate pay disputes at the rail operator Deutsche Bahn and national airline Lufthansa.
Cars and TransportationMarch 7, 2024
A Lufthansa Airbus A319 passenger aircraft with registration D AILC taking off from Berlin Brandenburg

Lufthansa more than doubles 2023 profits in COVID rebound

Germany's national carrier Lufthansa announces bumper profits for 2023, more than twice as much as the previous year
BusinessMarch 7, 2024
This aerial view shows hundreds of containers stored at the EUROKAI KGaA container terminal at the Hamburg harbor

Germany sees welcome jump in exports for January

There was some rare good news as a report showed that German exporters had a noticeable increase in sales for January.
BusinessMarch 6, 2024
Electric car surrounded by German car logos

Are German industries on the decline?

Many German companies have been industry leaders for decades. But that era may be coming to an end.
BusinessFebruary 23, 202402:23 min
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck holding a chart at a press conference

Germany's recession fears: Economic outlook is grim

The German government's annual economic report is bleak. Hopes that things might pick up again in 2024 have vanished.
PoliticsFebruary 22, 2024
Liquid iron in a furnace

What's wrong with Germany's economy?

Germany has been regarded as a model country in Europe. But the economy has taken a downturn.
BusinessFebruary 22, 202408:06 min
Cargo cranes in Hamburg with dark clouds in the background

Germany slashes 2024 growth outlook

Weak global demand, geopolitical unease, and sticky inflation have hampered an anticipated recovery from recession.
PoliticsFebruary 21, 2024
Olaf Scholz smiling atop a Leopard battle Tank (August 2022)

Germany: Is it better to spend on defense or on welfare?

Germany's Bundeswehr needs to be beefed up. This could come through more debt, or at the expense of social spending.
PoliticsFebruary 20, 2024
Man welding iron

Bleak economy, but innovation

German companies are suffering from high energy costs. But also successfully innovating.
BusinessFebruary 19, 202426:06 min
A security checkpoint at Hamburg airport, pictured during a recent strike, where the screens indicate that entry is not possible and the departures lounge is closed.

German central bank warns of recession, citing strikes

Germany's Bundesbank cited recent strikes as a factor, but added it did not anticipate a lasting or severe recession.
BusinessFebruary 19, 2024
Vice Chair and President of Microsoft Brad Smith (left) shaking hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) in Berlin on February 15, 2024

Germany: Microsoft to invest €3.3 billion in AI capacities

Microsoft's massive investment aims to double the company's AI and data center infrastructure in Germany.
BusinessFebruary 15, 2024
People cross Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo

Recession in Japan makes Germany third largest economy

Japan's economy has now contracted for two straight quarters, casting doubts on the central bank’s forecast.
BusinessFebruary 15, 2024
A group of protesters holding banners and flags

Germany's trade unions: What's behind the wave of strikes?

Lufthansa ground staff strike is the latest walkout as Germany's unions report rising membership and more engagement.
SocietyFebruary 7, 2024
A worker at a Mercedes-Benz factory in Berlin

Germany sees unexpected leap in factory orders

The data is welcome news after a slowdown in manufacturing for Europe's largest economy.
BusinessFebruary 6, 2024
A container ship passes terminals at the Hamburg port in northern Germany

German economy shrinks in final quarter of 2023

Europe's biggest economy has continued to shrink amid crises, inflation and lacking investment.
BusinessJanuary 30, 2024
Newly completed Tesla Model Y electric cars stand at the new Tesla Gigafactory electric car manufacturing plant

Germany: Business morale sours as economy stutters

German business morale dips once again after a short-lived burst of optimism that has given way to new fears.
BusinessJanuary 25, 2024
Pictures of cranes at a construction site against the sunrise

Ifo lowers German growth forecast amid budget cutbacks

Experts are predicting lower growth in the German economy as the government slashes spending.
BusinessJanuary 24, 2024
Euro notes

Shortfalls could challenge Germany's generosity

Germany prides itself on spending big on everything from social welfare to foreign aid. That could change.
PoliticsJanuary 20, 2024
A view of the Hamburg Elbtower under construction

Europe's commercial property sector braces for 'big reset'

Europe's commercial property sector has been hit by a storm. Higher interest rates have caught investors off guard.
BusinessJanuary 16, 2024
A construction site in Munich

Germany's economy shrank by 0.3% in 2023, latest data shows

Figures released by the federal statistics agency show that Germany's GDP dipped in 2023 compared to 2022.
BusinessJanuary 15, 2024
Tractors block a street during farmer protests

German farmers protest against subsidy cuts

German farmers have kicked off a week of nationwide protests, but not everyone believes their actions are justified.
BusinessJanuary 9, 202403:30 min
A hand placing 100-mark-bills into a counting-machine at the bank

Why are Germans hoarding billions of useless deutsche marks?

Just as everything seems to be getting more expensive, Germans have a secret stash of cash waiting to be tapped into.
BusinessJanuary 8, 2024
A shopping basket with a receipt inside

Germany sees inflation ease to 5.9% for 2023

While inflation has eased since the start of the year, food and energy price rises remain high.
PoliticsJanuary 4, 2024