Germany was the country’s biggest trade partner in Europe and the important gate for Vietnamese goods to be transited to other European markets. Germany also played important role in negotiation for Vietnam – EU’s FTA.

The bilateral trade exchange between Vietnam and Germany was at $ 8.78 billion in 2016. Of the figure, the country exported $ 5.95 billion worth of goods to, and imported $ 2.82 billion worth of goods from Germany. In the first five months of 2017, the bilateral trade exchange between Vietnam and Germany totaled US$ 3.85 billion, up by 10.8 per cent over the same period of 2016.

In the first five months of this year, Vietnam’s exports of goods to Germany reached $ 2.63 billion, up by 8.1 per cent year – on – year while the imports of goods from Germany reached $ 1.2 billion, up by 16.8 per cent.

Cell phones and accessories were leading the list of items exported by Vietnam to Germany in the first five months of this year with the export turnover of $ 733 million, accounted for 27.9 per cent of the total. It was followed by footwear of all kinds with $ 394.1 million, up by 32.6 per cent; coffee - $ 269.5 million, up by 20 per cent; textiles and garments - $ 258.2 million, up by 1.6 per cent; computers, electronics and components - $ 188.6 million, up by 8.8 per cent; machines, equipment and spare parts - $ 143.2 million, up by 52 per cent. 

In the first five months of this year, Vietnam’s exports of papers and products to Germany increased sharply by 141 per cent; ordinary metals and products – up by 76 per cent; precious stones, metals and products – up by 57 per cent; iron and steel of all kinds – up by 54 per cent; cameras, camcorders and components – up by 52 per cent; toys, sport equipment and spare parts – up by 56 per cent; and rubber – up by 50 per cent.

However, the exports of seafood, ceramic and porcelain products; and pepper to Germany decreased by 14.9 per cent; 23.5 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively year – on – year.

By April 20, 2017, Germany had 285 investment projects in Vietnam with the total registered capital of $ 1.41 billion. Germany ranked 20^th in the list of 116 countries and territories invested in Vietnam.