COUNTRY PROFILE: Germany

Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the fourth-largest economy in the world (GDP was more than A$3.3 trillion in 2010). Germany is ranked as the world's second-largest goods exporter: approximately A$1.16 trillion with a trade surplus of A$194 billion. Exports of goods and services made up over 41 per cent of GDP. Manufacturing is the mainstay of the German economy, with the export sector dominated by automobiles and machinery. Germany's exports of services are relatively underdeveloped, but new sectors, like IT, biotechnology and renewable energy are growing markedly. Agriculture accounts for only one per cent of GDP.

Germany felt the effects of the global economic and financial crisis particularly strongly in the export-oriented manufacturing sector. The economy fell into recession in the first quarter of 2009 as global demand for German exports weakened but in 2011 its exports are expected to grow by 8.5 per cent. GDP contracted by 4.7 per cent in 2009 but rose by 3.6 per cent in 2010 and is forecast to rise by 2.2 per cent in 2011 (IMF/EIU forecasts).

Germany is a strong supporter of multilateralism and is the third-largest contributor to the United Nations (UN) budget and largest contributor to the European Union (EU) budget. Germany has been elected to the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2011-12 term and continues to seek a permanent seat on the Council. Priority themes for Germany’s UNSC term are nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, climate change and security, crisis prevention, and inter-cultural dialogue.

Germany has taken a leading role on a number of key international issues, including the G20, climate change, energy, the Middle East Peace Process, and international security.

Germany is the EU’s most populous member state (82 million) and its largest single economy. It plays an increasingly prominent role in all major EU decisions including laying the groundwork for a reworked EU "reform" treaty signed on 19 October 2007 in Lisbon. Germany was the ninth EU member to ratify the Lisbon (EU Reform) Treaty, on 24 April 2008.

 

You can find a full report on WA’s trade relationship with Germany here

Size: 357,022 sq km

Population: 82.1 million (UN, 2010)

Time zone: Central European time (+ 1 hour from GMT) Summer time/daylight- saving time from March to November is + 2 hours from GMT

Government type: federal republic

Largest city: Berlin (3.438 million)

Gross National Income: USD$42,560 (World Bank, 2009)

Gross Domestic Product: USD$2.94 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP per sector: [agriculture: 1.8%, industry: 24.9%, services: 73.3% (2010 est.)]

Exports: USD$1.337 billion (2010 est.)

Export partners: France 10.2%, US 6.7%, Netherlands 6.7%, UK 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Austria 6%, China 4.5%, Switzerland 4.4% (2009 est.)

Imports: USD$1.12 trillion (2010 est.)

Import Partners: Netherlands 8.5%, China 8.2%, France 8.2%, US 5.9%, Italy 5.9%, UK 4.9%, Belgium 4.3%, Austria 4.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2009 est.)

Industries: among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

Source: CIA World Book of Facts and Australian Govt trade report