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Berlin Business Location Center > Business location > Berlin at a glance > Berlin’s foreign trade - Made in Berlin

Berlin’s foreign trade - Made in Berlin

Berlin products continue to be in high demand across the globe: In 2021, Berlin-based companies exported goods valued at roughly 16 billion euros!

Beside of the United States, China and France it's Poland, Great Britain and the Netherlands who are Berlin's most important foreign trading partners.

Berlin companies exported goods worth 15.8 billion euros to 202 countries in 2021. This means that Berlin's exports exceed the pre-Corona level of 2019 (15.2 billion euros). With growth of 9.2% compared to the previous year, Berlin is below the national average (+14%), but the slump in the Corona year 2020 was only almost half as high as in Germany as a whole. 

With a share of 8.9% of all Berlin exports, the United States remains the most important customer for Berlin goods, followed by China, France, Poland and the Netherlands. 45% of all Berlin exports went to the EU (excluding Great Britain).

Berlin's exports to the euro zone rose by 14.7%, mostly due to strong growth in exports to the Netherlands. Exports to all EU countries (excluding Great Britain) also increased by 10.6%. Exports to Great Britain, on the other hand, fell significantly by -8.3%. With an export increase of +18.7%, China took second place among the most important export countries, while France dropped to third place with an export increase of 10.2%.

The top export goods of the Berlin economy include pharmaceutical products with a share of approx. 21% (3.3 billion euros), other vehicles (1.3 billion euros), devices for generating electricity (1.1 billion euros). ), medical devices (952 million euros) and prime movers (754 million euros).

Forecasts predict that growth in Berlin's export economy will be slowed in 2022 due to rising energy and raw material prices as well as disrupted supply chains.

International connections

Excellent networking through 17 international sister cities and other types of cooperation as well as approx. 160 diplomatic representations, international business groups, chambers of commerce and organizations on site. Wide support network for funding and subsidies provided by various institutions Located in the heart of Europe with excellent international connections

(Sources: IBB, Berlin aktuell - Berliner Exporte, 2022; Statistical Office for Berlin-Brandenburg, 2022)