Germany's Dependency on China for Critical Goods Deepens, Contradicting Government Diversification Goals
A new study reveals that Germany's import dependence on China for strategically vital goods, including lithium batteries, solar panels, and antibiotics, has increased sharply, undercutting Berlin's de-risking strategy.
Study Exposes Growing Reliance
A study by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, published on Tuesday, shows that Germany's economic dependence on China for critical goods has deepened, contradicting the German government's stated goal of diversification. The analysis, based on preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office, examined direct imports of products and raw materials deemed strategically important.
Precisely in critical areas, Germany is not diversifying, but becoming even more dependent and thus more vulnerable.
Key Sectors and Numbers
China's share of German imports of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries rose from 49.7 percent in 2023 to 66.5 percent in 2025. For antibiotics, the share jumped from 65.3 percent to 72.9 percent, while vitamins and provitamins climbed from 71.3 percent to 81.6 percent. Solar panel imports from China reached a new high of 92.6 percent of the total import weight, up from about 89 percent in 2023.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries 2023
- 49.7 %
- Lithium-Ion Batteries 2025
- 66.5 %
- Antibiotics 2023
- 65.3 %
- Antibiotics 2025
- 72.9 %
- Vitamins & Provitamins 2023
- 71.3 %
- Vitamins & Provitamins 2025
- 81.6 %
- Solar Panels 2023
- 89 %
- Solar Panels 2025
- 92.6 %
In addition, China virtually dominates the supply of certain rare earth elements—praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium—essential for high-performance permanent magnets used in electric motors. Imports of these rare earths by weight surged from 3.1 tonnes in 2023 to 13.0 tonnes in 2025.
Government Response and China Visit
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is expected to visit China on Wednesday, accompanied by top executives including BASF CEO Markus Kamieth, Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Lopez, and Siemens Energy board member Tim Holt. A ministry spokesperson said the government places particular importance on becoming more resilient in raw materials and demanding fair competition, topics that will feature in talks in Beijing.
In the future, de-risking for companies could become even more complicated because the Chinese government is now actively working against it.
Spohr noted that the government's 2023 China strategy, which aimed to reduce economic dependencies, has yet to reverse the trend. The study only covers direct imports from China, not indirect shipments via third countries that may include Chinese components.
Broader Implications
The findings highlight a widening gap between political rhetoric and trade realities. As Germany—and the EU—struggle to craft effective de-risking policies, the rising dependency on a single supplier for energy transition technologies and medical supplies raises concerns about supply chain security and geopolitical leverage.
