Germany is the main trading partner of 17 EU countries

Germany is the main trading partner of 17 of the 27 EU countries. The main trading partner of Germany is the Netherlands.

Main trading partner often nearby

Germany is the main trading partner for no fewer than 17 EU countries. This is due to its central location in Europe, the enormous size of the German economy and the large number of neighbouring countries.

The EU countries for which Germany is not the main  trading partner are: Portugal (main  trading partner is Spain), Malta (Italy), Latvia (Lithuania), Ireland (UK), Spain (France), Estonia (Finland), Cyprus (Greece), Finland and Lithuania (both Russia). In virtually all cases the main trading partners are neighbouring or nearby countries.

Times a country is the main trading partner of an EU country, 2011

The Netherlands is a top 15 trading partner for all EU countries

The Netherlands is in the top 15 of main trading partners for all EU countries. The Netherlands is the main trading partner for Germany and the second most important for Belgium. Dutch trade is also very important for the UK and Luxembourg, as the Netherlands takes a third and a fourth place respectively. The reason why the Netherlands is also the fourth trading partner of Finland and the Czech Republic is due among other things to the relatively large flows of re-exports from the Netherlands to these countries.

Place of the Netherlands in the top 15 of main trading partners, EU countries, 2011

Large share of Belgian trade with the Netherlands

When we look at the share of the Netherlands in the total trade of the EU countries we get a slightly different picture. Nearly 16 percent of the total Belgian trade is with the Netherlands, and only 10 percent of German trade. This is because Belgium trades with fewer countries than Germany. At least 2 percent of the trade of all EU countries is with the Netherlands.

Share of the Netherlands in the total trade of EU countries, 2011

Pascal Ramaekers