Top countries driving exports for German online stores
Uncover the leading nations boosting exports for German e-commerce. Learn about the markets that are shaping the future of online retail in Germany.
German online stores keep selling across borders at a steady pace. More shoppers abroad are picking German brands because they want quality, predictable delivery, and trustworthy returns. On the seller side, more small businesses see that cross-border demand isn’t reserved for big retailers. If a product travels well and the shop gives clear shipping terms, someone abroad will probably buy it.
When you follow how exports from German online stores move around the map, you find a pattern: buyers want reliability and a brand story that feels authentic.
So, let’s look at the destinations shaping this trend.
Continents: where exports from German online stores travel the most
Cross-border e-commerce loves short distances. That’s why the first wave of exports from German merchants stays in Europe. Roughly two-thirds of German exports go to European countries overall, and the European Union absorbs more than half of all goods (54.5%).
Asia follows as the second major region, taking around 16.8% of exports. Shoppers in Asia often look for German tech, electronics, and premium consumer goods.
Then comes North America, picking up about 12.4%, driven by strong demand for high-quality tools, automotive items, wellness products, and carefully crafted fashion.
For an online store, this distribution helps with planning:
- Europe gives volume and predictability.
- Asia gives category-driven spikes.
- North America gives high-value orders and strong repeat rates.
Together, they build a balanced export picture.
Top countries driving exports from German e-commerce
Now get a map that shows exactly where German exports focus their energy in 2025.
United States
The US holds the top spot with goods worth about $174.7 billion coming from Germany. This isn’t surprising. American shoppers love German engineering, high-quality tools, reliable electronics, and premium appliances. Even German skincare, wellness supplements, and niche hobby products have strong fan bases.
For many US buyers, German quality signals durability. That emotional link turns a simple product page into something more persuasive.
For online sellers, the US offers scale but also demands clarity. Shoppers expect fast shipping estimates, tax transparency, and easy returns. Offering local payment methods helps as well.
France
Just across the border, France remains a powerful market with $125.5 billion in German imports. It’s right behind the US in volume, and the demand feels steady all year long. French buyers tend to appreciate brands with a clean aesthetic, straightforward delivery terms, and sustainable product angles. Home goods, tech accessories, sports equipment, and wellness items move quickly in this market.
Language localization goes a long way here. Even a small translation effort — product pages, support messages, or FAQ sections — makes a German shop feel more approachable. French shoppers reward clarity, so stores that explain care instructions, materials, or warranties stand out.
Netherlands & Belgium
The Netherlands sits at $118.8 billion, and Belgium at $63.7 billion. These two neighbors behave like logistics crossroads. Shipments arrive quickly, and customers are used to cross-border shopping. Many Dutch and Belgian shoppers browse German stores directly because they trust the product quality and know the packages arrive in a day or two.
This region loves practical goods: electronics, sports gear, modern furniture pieces, pet supplies, and eco-friendly household products. Both countries also act as re-export hubs, meaning products often pass through them on the way to other global destinations. For German stores, this creates a natural flow of repeat orders.
Poland
Poland continues to grow with $101.6 billion worth of German imports. This is one of the most promising destinations in Central Europe. Polish shoppers seek a good balance of price and quality, and German stores often strike this balance perfectly. Automotive parts, electronics, construction tools, wellness products, and baby goods sell well here.
Poland is also one of the fastest-growing buyers of German exports, which gives online stores a strong signal: this is a market worth nurturing. So offer payment methods like BLIK or bank transfers, which Polish shoppers use frequently.
Many small German businesses start their cross-border journey with Poland because the logistics are predictable and the customer expectations feel familiar.
China and other Asian growth markets
China purchases about $97.4 billion worth of German products. Even with a year-over-year decline, this market remains massive. Chinese shoppers look for premium brands, certified wellness products, specialty kitchen tools, craft goods, and authentic European items they can’t get locally. High-value and high-trust categories perform best here.
Japan sits at $23.3 billion and stands out because it showed the strongest growth among major buyers. Japanese shoppers appreciate precision, thoughtful packaging, and well-built gadgets. Categories like stationery, compact electronics, home organization items, and wellness accessories sell consistently.
India also shows positive movement with $18.3 billion. Its large, young population is building more trust in Western online stores every year. Indian shoppers often search for original electronics, home improvement tools, and branded lifestyle goods. Providing clear customs information helps build confidence.
These Asian markets require more attention to product details, materials, dimensions, and certifications. Once shoppers feel informed, they order with enthusiasm.
United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland
The UK takes in $86.9 billion. Austria sits at $81.9 billion. Switzerland absorbs $74.3 billion. All three markets share something important: they trust German goods and buy them consistently.
In the UK, buyers appreciate reliability and clear delivery terms post-Brexit. They enjoy German-made fashion basics, pet products, wellness items, hobby equipment, and car accessories.
Austria feels almost like a domestic market to many German merchants. Demand stays strong across all everyday categories: home goods, fashion, kitchenware, outdoor gear, and electronics.
Switzerland, another DACH country, values premium products, durability, and sustainability. Higher spending power makes categories like outdoor equipment, modern kitchen items, sports tech, and wellness goods particularly appealing.
Together, these three destinations support the backbone of exports from German online stores: solid order volume, predictable demand, and strong brand trust.
Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, Portugal
Italy buys $87.6 billion worth of German products. Spanish buyers take in $58.5 billion. Portugal adds $13.1 billion. These countries enjoy German tools, automotive items, electronics, fashion, and home accessories.
When German merchants offer transparent timelines and simplified returns, conversion rates rise. Many shoppers here also appreciate Mastercard/Visa-first checkouts, so keeping payment flows simple works best.
Nordic region: Sweden and Denmark
Sweden’s imports sit at around $30.4 billion, and Denmark stands at $24.32 billion. Nordic shoppers favor quality, durability, sustainable packaging, and modern design. German online stores selling minimalist home goods, outdoor products, or smart electronics find loyal buyers here.
Sweden experienced a decline in imports (ben 1), so stores may face tighter competition. The region generally rewards transparency and sustainable branding, so merchants who highlight certifications stand out.
Central and Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
These countries show a mix of solid volume and varied growth. The Czech Republic takes $55.5 billion, Hungary sits at $35.2 billion, Romania reaches $24.26 billion, and Slovakia buys $19.3 billion.
Shoppers here appreciate fair pricing and reliable product descriptions. Germany often feels like a trusted source for household goods, electronics, work equipment, and baby products. Romania appears among the fastest growers, so merchants offering good logistics and regional payment options can capture rising demand.
North & South America: Mexico, Brazil, Canada
Mexico buys $19 billion. Brazil follows with $14.3 billion. Canada sits close to $14 billion. These destinations show different levels of growth, but they highlight something important: German goods have global reach well beyond Europe.
Brazil grew nicely year over year. Mexican demand dipped. Canada stays steady. Outdoor equipment, tools, fashion basics, and wellness goods often perform well here.
Fastest-growing destinations for German exports
Growth matters because it shows where shoppers are warming up to German brands. There are several countries with strong upward trends, and they hint at new opportunities for online sellers.
- Japan leads with a jump of 6.6%.
- Poland gained 4.1%.
- Brazil grew by 3.1%
- Romania increased by 3%
- India showed 2.6%
These destinations show that exports from German online stores have more room to expand than many retailers assume. Once a store builds trust in one country, shoppers in other regions usually start paying attention too.
Markets that show a slowdown
Some destinations still buy large volumes, yet the demand isn’t moving upward right now. When you look at exports from German online stores, a slowdown doesn’t mean a market is failing – rather that shoppers there shifted spending, discovered cheaper regional alternatives, or paused cross-border purchases because of local economic pressure.
In this group sit:
- Türkiye fell by -7.7%.
- China declined -7.5%
- Mexico fell -7.3%
- Sweden shows -5.5%
- Italy dropped -5.4%
These declines often come from changing habits, not rejection of German products. Many Nordic shoppers switched to regional, eco-friendly brands, or buyers moved more toward value-driven choices as their cost of living shifted.
What categories travel best across borders?
Every cross-border success story comes down to products that handle distance well.
Premium consumer electronics always travel well. Small gadgets, smart home accessories, precision tools, and photography add-ons stay popular because they’re compact and reliable.
Automotive parts hold huge demand across Poland, the US, the UK, Austria, Mexico, Brazil, and the Netherlands. When a part fits a German-made car, customers trust a German seller over a random marketplace listing.
Home goods and furniture accessories move well inside Europe. Dutch, Belgian, French, Austrian, and Nordic shoppers love modern design, minimalism, and practicality.
Personal care and wellness products travel steadily to Asia, North America, and Western Europe. Japan, China, Canada, France, and Switzerland buy many German-made skincare, supplements, beauty tools, and health accessories. These markets value safety, clean formulas, and transparent labels.
How can German merchants grow exports?
Cross-border sales in 2025 reward merchants who stay flexible, clear, and transparent. You don’t need a big budget to expand. Often, a few tactical improvements unlock new countries, driving exports and helping you reach shoppers you never targeted before.
Start with the checkout. Localizing payment options works wonders. Polish shoppers expect BLIK. French buyers feel comfortable with Cartes Bancaires. Swiss customers love invoice-based options. US shoppers prefer credit cards and PayPal. When customers see their favorite method, they feel ready to buy.
Delivery transparency matters more than speed. Many buyers accept longer delivery times if the store gives stable tracking and accurate estimates. Clear customs information helps Asian and American buyers feel confident. Even a short paragraph about the process makes a big difference.
Product pages benefit from small tweaks. Add measurements. Add materials. Add care instructions. Explain how the product fits into daily life. Buyers in Japan, the US, France, and Brazil rely on these details before placing cross-border orders.
Translations don’t need to be perfect. Even partial localization helps. A German store translating only its top five products into French, Dutch, or Polish often sees conversion improvements.
Marketplaces can accelerate your reach. Many small German merchants use Amazon US, Amazon UK, Cdiscount, Bol.com, Allegro, or Etsy to reach new regions. Marketplaces already handle trust, payment processing, and visibility. They act as stepping stones for later direct-to-consumer growth.
Reviews matter globally. A US buyer reads them the same way a Danish buyer does: as proof of reliability. Encourage customers to leave feedback after successful deliveries. It creates long-term leverage.
Finally, keep an eye on regulations. Packaging rules in France, eco-fee updates in Austria, customs changes in the UK, and digital VAT requirements in Switzerland influence your margins. Being aware helps you adapt early and stay competitive.
Final thoughts
Exports from German online stores keep growing because shoppers around the world trust the quality and enjoy the buying experience. Countries driving exports shift slightly every year, yet the overall picture stays warm and steady: buyers want well-made products, fair shipping, and honest communication.
German merchants who take cross-border demand seriously in 2025 will find plenty of room to grow. The world stays curious about German brands — and that curiosity turns into orders when the store gives clarity, care, and a smooth path to checkout.
