The trend of rising imports and falling exports has continued
The number of importing companies located in Germany rose in 2024 compared with 2023 (851,000 companies): Around 873,000 companies imported raw materials and goods. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for the vast majority of importers, at 98.3 per cent. Their number rose to almost 859,000 (+2.6 per cent compared with 2023). Overall, one in four SMEs imported goods from abroad.
Although the number of large enterprises importing goods also increased – by +1.7 per cent – this rise was smaller than that of importing SMEs. In total, large enterprises imported goods worth 792 billion euros. The total value of goods imported by large enterprises was thus more than twice that of SMEs.
SME exports also fell in 2024
The trend in goods exports developed in a diametrically opposite direction to that of imports: whilst around 267,000 companies based in Germany exported goods in 2023, this figure had fallen to just 263,000 companies by 2024 (-1.4 per cent). Although SMEs continue to account for the vast majority of exporters, with 255,000 exporting companies, the value of the goods they exported fell to 268 billion euros (-3.2%). For large enterprises, the decline was -1.7%. Overall, the share of exports accounted for by SMEs now stands at less than 20%.
Europe remains the most important market
The European Union (EU) remains the most important region of origin and the most significant export market for SMEs: 26 per cent of them imported goods from the EU, compared with just 5.3 per cent from non-EU countries. The value of goods imported from the EU stood at 215 billion euros, whilst that of goods from non-EU countries was 94 billion euros.
In terms of exports, SMEs are more globally oriented: 6.9 per cent of small and medium-sized exporters supplied goods to the EU in 2024, whilst 3.3 per cent of them supplied goods to countries outside the EU. Overall, around 62 per cent of the total value of goods exported by SMEs was accounted for by the EU internal market.
Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit particularly from the size of the EU internal market and the largely harmonised regulations. "In addition, the market largely offers legal certainty and reliable framework conditions, which is of great value to SMEs as a whole, particularly in view of growing global risks," said IfM-researcher Peter Kranzusch.
Every year, researchers at the IfM Bonn analyse data on imports and exports by companies based in Germany, based on Eurostat’s "Trade by Enterprise Characteristics" (TEC) statistics, taking into account company size and the respective markets.
