China has overtaken the United States as Germany’s top trading partner, with total trade reaching €251bn in 2025.
The figure rose by 2.2% from the previous year.
Germany imported €170.6bn worth of goods from China and exported €81.3bn in return.
Trade with the US fell to €240bn, partly influenced by tariffs.
Friedrich Merz will travel to Beijing for his first official visit as chancellor.
He is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang for talks on trade, Ukraine and human rights.
Germany’s car industry remains deeply tied to China.
Companies such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz rely heavily on the Chinese market and will join the business delegation.
The EU continues efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing and critical minerals.
Berlin, however, has taken a cautious approach to trade barriers to protect its automotive sector.
The visit is intended to signal dialogue and economic cooperation despite growing geopolitical tensions.
