Germany’s trade with Africa falls amid coronavirus pandemic

In recent years, German companies doing business on the African continent have expressed their delight at the supposedly record-breaking trade between Germany and Africa.

This year, though, it’s a different story.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, German imports from Africa fell sharply to 10.4 billion euro ($12.1) from January to July 2020, according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. That’s a decline of nearly 3.6 billion euro, or 26%, compared to the same period in 2019.

Exports aren’t looking much better. They fell by around 2.6 billion euro, or 18%, to around 11.6 billion euro from January to July 2020 compared to the same period last year.

This negative trend is expected to continue for the rest of 2020.

“Based on company surveys, we assume that German imports and exports [to and from Africa] will decline by up to 25%,” said Heiko Schwiderowski, Africa specialist at the Association of German Chambers