The cited report shows that in the first quarter of 2026, German trade with Eastern European countries increased by 3.5%.
— Poland is strengthening its position as the fourth largest sales market for Germany, overtaking China, said Philipp Haussmann, deputy head of the Eastern Commission of the German Economy, quoted by Reuters.
During this period, German companies achieved much greater trade turnover with Eastern European countries than with the two largest economic powers in the world combined – the United States and China.
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Exports from Germany to 29 European countries increased
According to the German association, trade with 29 countries in the region increased by 3.5% from January to March. year-on-year, reaching a value of EUR 141 billion. For comparison, Germany's total foreign trade turnover with the United States and China amounted to EUR 122 billion in the same period.
— German trade with Eastern European countries started 2026 with great momentum, said Haussmann. He added that “without Eastern Europe, Germany's foreign trade would be much weaker.”
An increase was also recorded in exports to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which increased to EUR 75.2 billion, or 5.5%. compared to the first quarter of 2025. In turn, imports from this region increased to EUR 65.8 billion, by 1.4%. – reports the Berlin daily “Tagesspiegel”, quoted by PAP.
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In the first quarter of this year the export of German goods to the four largest markets in the region – to Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania – also increased by almost EUR 4 billion. There was also significant growth in exports to rapidly developing countries in Southeast Europe, including Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovenia. However, exports to Ukraine decreased.
— Poland is strengthening its position as the fourth largest sales market for Germany, overtaking China — Haussmann pointed out. He added that the Czech Republic also benefits from a stable investment environment.
The vice-chairman of the Eastern Commission for the German Economy also expressed the belief that Hungary, after a change of government, “will again enter the path that brought this country such great success after joining the EU in 2004.”
