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The twenty imports Germany is best placed to replace.

Germany imported USD 1139bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 1444bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 35bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
142products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
2151products Germany already exports well
3290product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Germany already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Germany would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Germany does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Polypeptide hormones, protein hormones and glycoprotein hormones, their derivatives and structural analogues: other...HS 293719

    Comes fromUnited States 66%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthHeterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, containing... (exports USD 1.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 844m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 375m
    Countries that export it well6

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 2.5bn, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); United States supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 2.5bnup 90% on 2022
  2. 2

    Heterocyclic compounds: lactams: other than 6-hexanelactam (epsilon caprolactam) and clobazam (INN) and methyprylon...HS 293379

    Comes fromIreland 79%, 36 source countries
    Nearest export strengthHeterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, containing... (exports USD 1.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 225m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 5.9bn
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 3.4bn, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); Ireland supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 3.4bndown 69% on 2022
  3. 3

    Mowers: lawn, parks or sports-grounds, powered, with the cutting device rotating in a horizontal planeHS 843311

    Comes fromChina 41%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 432m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 54m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 992m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); China supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 992mdown 8% on 2022
  4. 4

    Lubricating oil additives: containing petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous mineralsHS 381121

    Comes fromFrance 47%, 45 source countries
    Nearest export strengthReagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared... (exports USD 8.0bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 317m
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 653m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); France supplies 47 per cent (1).

    USD 653mup 4% on 2022
  5. 5

    Vegetable preparations: potatoes, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, frozenHS 200410

    Comes fromNetherlands 60%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthNuts and other seeds: whether or not containing added sugar, other... (exports USD 522m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 431m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 601m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); Netherlands supplies 60 per cent (2).

    USD 601mup 44% on 2022
  6. 6

    Acyclic hydrocarbons: unsaturated, ethyleneHS 290121

    Comes fromNetherlands 62%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthHeterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, containing... (exports USD 1.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 247m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 166m
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 493m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); Netherlands supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 493mdown 20% on 2022
  7. 7

    Cyclic hydrocarbons: styreneHS 290250

    Comes fromNetherlands 68%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthHeterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, containing... (exports USD 1.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 82m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 589m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 441m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); Netherlands supplies 68 per cent (2).

    USD 441mdown 23% on 2022
  8. 8

    Steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than...HS 721913

    Comes fromFinland 62%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not... (exports USD 2.1bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m; 9 more lines in the heading, USD 2.6bn
    Countries that export it well7

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 318m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 50 per cent (1); Finland supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 318mdown 40% on 2022
  9. 9

    Amine-function compounds: acyclic polyamines and their derivatives, hexamethylenediamine and its saltsHS 292122

    Comes fromFrance 81%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthHeterocyclic compounds: with oxygen hetero-atom(s) only, containing... (exports USD 1.5bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 29m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 455m
    Countries that export it well3

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 306m, top 21 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); France supplies 81 per cent (2).

    USD 306mdown 44% on 2022
  10. 10

    Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, mixed, put...HS 300214

    Comes fromIreland 29%, 37 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMedicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in... (exports USD 56bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.0bn; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 4.3bn
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 7.5bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1).

    USD 7.5bndown 19% on 2022
  11. 11

    Turbines: parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellersHS 841191

    Comes fromUnited States 34%, 68 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3.5bn; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 5.4bn
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 6.7bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1).

    USD 6.7bnup 43% on 2022
  12. 12

    Lighting or visual signalling equipment: electrical, of a kind used on motor vehicles (excluding articles of heading...HS 851220

    Comes fromCzech Republic 25%, 83 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBoards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases: for electric... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.6bn; 1 more line in the heading, USD 106m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 4.0bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1).

    USD 4.0bnup 19% on 2022
  13. 13

    Medical, surgical instruments and appliances: catheters, cannulae and the likeHS 901839

    Comes fromUnited States 21%, 85 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMedical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in... (exports USD 8.4bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2.0bn; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 373m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 2.5bn, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1).

    USD 2.5bnup 9% on 2022
  14. 14

    Artificial parts of the body: excluding artificial jointsHS 902139

    Comes fromUnited States 24%, 76 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMedical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in... (exports USD 8.4bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 951m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 548m
    Countries that export it well15

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 1.0bn, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 48 per cent (1).

    USD 1.0bnup 37% on 2022
  15. 15

    Machines and apparatus of heading 8486: parts and accessoriesHS 848690

    Comes fromUnited States 24%, 62 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.9bn; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 741m
    Countries that export it well8

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 929m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1).

    USD 929mup 11% on 2022
  16. 16

    Aircraft and spacecraft: under-carriages and parts thereofHS 880720

    Comes fromFrance 31%, 72 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight... (exports USD 22bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 416m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 92m
    Countries that export it well5

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 911m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1).

    USD 911mup 37% on 2022
  17. 17

    Front-end shovel loadersHS 842951

    Comes fromAustria 24%, 40 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1.0bn; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 1.2bn
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 765m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 36 per cent (1).

    USD 765mdown 9% on 2022
  18. 18

    Wood pulp: chemical wood pulp, soda or sulphate, (other than dissolving grades), semi-bleached or bleached, of...HS 470321

    Comes fromSweden 32%, 17 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood pulp: chemical wood pulp, sulphite, (other than dissolving... (exports USD 117m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 619m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 1.1bn
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 657m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1).

    USD 657mdown 21% on 2022
  19. 19

    Iron or non-alloy steel: in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled...HS 720827

    Comes fromBelgium 40%, 29 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, (not... (exports USD 2.1bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 239m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 1.7bn
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 440m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); Belgium supplies 40 per cent (1).

    USD 440mdown 26% on 2022
  20. 20

    Cranes and derricks: designed for mounting on road vehiclesHS 842691

    Comes fromAustria 49%, 28 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions... (exports USD 10bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 59m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 61m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 243m, top 25 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Germany's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); Austria supplies 49 per cent (1).

    USD 243mdown 9% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Germany already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes, helicopters or unmanned aircraft... imports USD 10bn, exports USD 8.9bn, top source United Kingdom 36%
  • Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station... imports USD 5.5bn, exports USD 4.1bn, top source China 10%
  • Aluminium: articles n.e.c. in heading 7616 imports USD 3.0bn, exports USD 1.7bn, top source Italy 16%
  • Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted... imports USD 3.9bn, exports USD 2.9bn, top source China 19%
  • Vacuum cleaners, with self-contained electric motor, of a power not exceeding... imports USD 2.4bn, exports USD 1.5bn, top source China 56%
  • Catalysts, supported: reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic... imports USD 3.2bn, exports USD 2.3bn, top source North Macedonia 48%
  • Electrical static converters imports USD 8.9bn, exports USD 8.1bn, top source China 26%
  • Electric motors and generators: parts suitable for use solely or principally... imports USD 3.6bn, exports USD 2.9bn, top source China 21%
  • Aluminium: alloys, bars, rods and profiles, other than hollow imports USD 2.0bn, exports USD 1.2bn, top source Italy 13%
  • Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of... imports USD 3.7bn, exports USD 3.1bn, top source Vietnam 25%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 3290 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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