Eastern Europe Drives German Foreign Trade – Poland Surpasses China, Ukraine Shows Strong Export Growth

While the German economy is faltering, trade with Eastern and Southeastern Europe is developing dynamically. Poland and Ukraine, in particular, are showing impressive figures.

According to the German Eastern Business Association, trade volume between Germany and Poland rose by €4.6 billion in the first half of 2025, reaching a record high of over €90 billion – an increase of 5.4%. German exports to Poland grew by 5.7% to €49.4 billion, placing Poland ahead of China (€41.4 billion) for the first time. Imports from Poland also increased by 5.2% to €40.6 billion.

Ukraine recorded even stronger growth during the same period: German exports rose by 30% to €4.6 billion. “Supporting and rebuilding Ukraine remain central tasks for European politics and business,” said Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chair of the Eastern Business Association. She emphasized that private-sector investments can only flow in a stable and legally secure environment, warning against a potential weakening of anti-corruption efforts.

The Czech Republic also contributed to the positive Eastern trade trend: bilateral trade volume grew by 3.4% to €57.8 billion. Meanwhile, trade with Hungary is suffering due to economic policy measures by the government in Budapest, and trade with Russia continued its dramatic decline – down 13%, pushing Russia out of the top 10 Eastern European trading partners.

Despite these positive developments, total German exports fell slightly by 0.1% to €786 billion in the first half of 2025. However, exports to the 29 target countries of the Eastern Business Association in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia rose by 2.2% to €144 billion – clear evidence of the region’s growing importance for the German economy.