German overseas exports fell again noticeably at the beginning of the second quarter due to weaker demand from the United States and China. Exports to countries outside the European Union fell by 5.7 percent in April compared to the previous month to 56.5 billion euros, the Federal Statistical Office announced on Monday. This is already the second sharp decline in a row, after a decline of 3.4 percent in calendar and seasonally adjusted terms in March. Exports also fell by 2022.5 percent compared to April 2 last year – with the volume delivered shrinking twice as much to 10.4 percent.

Once again, the USA remained the most important buyer of goods "Made in Germany". Products worth 11.6 billion euros were delivered there in April, a decline of 2.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Exports to the People's Republic of China, which has since abandoned its strict corona policy, fell by as much as 9.6 percent to 7.5 billion euros. Exports to Great Britain fell by 8.1 percent to 5.3 billion euros, while exports to neighboring Switzerland fell by as much as 13.7 percent to 4.6 billion euros.

Exports to Russia, which are suffering from sanctions as a result of the war against Ukraine, fell by 13.6 percent to 0.7 billion euros. As a result, Russia slipped to 15th place among the most important destinations for German exports outside the EU. In February 2022, before the attack on Ukraine, Russia had ranked fifth.

Trade with the so-called third countries accounts for almost half of all German exports. The leading indicator thus makes the first results for an important part of Germany's foreign trade available quickly. Since business with third countries does not always develop in parallel with trade with EU countries, it is not possible to make forecasts for the overall results of foreign trade on this basis, according to the statisticians.