MacroDataHub

Germany current account goods expenditure

Germany current account goods expenditure stood at 93,174.68 EUR million in Aug 2026, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Balance of payments: current account table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1971 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.

Source: Deutsche BundesbankLast updated: Curated by Bui Thanh Phuc
Loading chart data…

This indicator in the Balance of payments: current account table

Indicator08-202607-202606-202605-202604-202603-202602-202601-202612-202511-2025
Expenditure293,174.68104,826.11113,624.8997,877.99107,145.08109,606.1497,497.491,829.0493,694.5299,594.18
General merchandise on a balance of payments basis, Imports91,467.18102,060.99108,395.0495,907.91102,923.54106,668.5393,442.3189,167.1688,505.1397,753.56
Non-monetary gold, Imports1,707.52,765.115,229.851,970.084,221.542,937.614,055.092,661.875,189.391,840.62

Understanding germany current account goods expenditure

Financial outlays covering the acquisition of physical merchandise from non-resident entities constitute this specific debit measure within the current account. It tracks the total euro volume moving outward to pay for imports. Unlike the broader trade balance, which nets exports against imports, this series isolates the negative flow of capital exiting the domestic economy to secure foreign goods. The total spans everything from raw materials to consumer products, but strictly excludes outlays for cross-border services, income transfers, or financial asset purchases.

Month-to-month observations often exhibit significant volatility stemming from uneven delivery schedules of high-value capital items or bulk commodities, making year-on-year comparisons the more reliable lens for assessing underlying shifts in import demand. Analysts must account for standard revisions that occur as preliminary customs declarations are finalized and integrated into the overarching balance of payments framework. Furthermore, sudden reclassifications between goods and services—such as when physical software media transitions to digital delivery—can introduce subtle breaks in the historical continuity. Because the valuation is sensitive to currency fluctuations, tracking the measure against prevailing exchange rates prevents misinterpreting currency effects as shifts in physical trade volume.

Frequently asked questions

Does this expenditure series match the total value of imported products published in foreign trade statistics?
Not exactly, as this measure adjusts raw customs import figures to align with strict change-of-ownership principles required for the balance of payments. Items like freight and insurance costs to the border are stripped out of the raw goods valuation.
Are payments for cloud computing and streaming subscriptions counted as goods expenditure?
No, payments for digital access and cloud infrastructure are categorized under services rather than physical goods. This debit row is restricted to tangible items changing hands across borders.
Why would a large acquisition of foreign commercial real estate be excluded from this measure?
Real estate purchases fall under capital or financial account transactions rather than the current account. This series solely captures current outlays for tradable physical merchandise.

You may also be interested in