Key Takeaways
- Germany ranks first among EU member states for extra-EU goods exports in 2025. The country recorded €689 billion worth of exports and a 26.1% share of the EU total. Its share fell from 30.9% in 2014 as German manufacturing contracted.
- Italy, France, and the Netherlands hold positions 2, 3, and 4. Together with Germany, the four countries account for 59% of all EU extra-EU exports.
- Ireland’s share more than doubled from 3.0% in 2014 to 6.5% in 2025. This growth is driven by pharmaceutical multinational exports.
- Slovenia’s share rose from 0.4% to 1.7%. It is also pharmaceutical-driven. Sandoz subsidiary Lek and Krka are the primary exporters.
Extra-EU Exports by EU Member State
| Country | Extra-EU Exports (In billion euros, % of total EU exports) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2025 | |
| Germany | 555.6 (30.9%) | 689.2 (26.1%) |
| Italy | 201.0 (11.2%) | 313.0 (11.8%) |
| France | 205.5 (11.4%) | 280.5 (10.6%) |
| Netherlands | 166.2 (9.2%) | 271.2 (10.3%) |
| Ireland | 54.7 (3.0%) | 172.8 (6.5%) |
| Belgium | 134.1 (7.5%) | 155.2 (5.9%) |
| Spain | 105.4 (5.9%) | 148.6 (5.6%) |
| Poland | 48.0 (2.7%) | 92.5 (3.5%) |
| Sweden | 60.3 (3.4%) | 83.7 (3.2%) |
| Austria | 44.5 (2.5%) | 61.0 (2.3%) |
| Denmark | 37.0 (2.1%) | 59.9 (2.3%) |
| Czechia | 30.1 (1.7%) | 53.3 (2.0%) |
| Slovenia | 7.2 (0.4%) | 43.7 (1.7%) |
| Hungary | 19.8 (1.1%) | 37.3 (1.4%) |
| Finland | 26.9 (1.5%) | 32.3 (1.2%) |
| Romania | 17.3 (1.0%) | 27.6 (1.0%) |
| Slovakia | 13.4 (0.7%) | 24.1 (0.9%) |
| Portugal | 17.0 (0.9%) | 22.0 (0.8%) |
| Greece | 15.0 (0.8%) | 20.9 (0.8%) |
| Bulgaria | 8.8 (0.5%) | 15.3 (0.6%) |
| Lithuania | 11.9 (0.7%) | 11.4 (0.4%) |
| Croatia | 4.0 (0.2%) | 8.5 (0.3%) |
| Latvia | 4.0 (0.2%) | 6.1 (0.2%) |
| Estonia | 3.6 (0.2%) | 4.7 (0.2%) |
| Cyprus | 1.3 (0.1%) | 4.0 (0.2%) |
| Luxembourg | 3.0 (0.2%) | 2.7 (0.1%) |
| Malta | 1.2 (0.1%) | 1.7 (0.1%) |
Source: Eurostat (2014 & 2025)
Exports are measured in millions of ECU/Euro at current prices. Values in the table are rounded to the nearest billion. Share columns show each member state’s contribution to total EU extra-EU exports in that year. Extra-EU trade covers goods exported to countries outside the European Union.
Germany Dominates Extra-EU Exports
The EU exported €2.6 trillion worth of goods to countries outside the bloc in 2025. Germany accounts for more than a quarter of that on its own.
Germany ranks first with €689 billion in extra-EU exports. It is followed by
- Italy – €313 billion
- France – €281 billion
- Netherlands – €271 billion
The four together account for 59% of all EU extra-EU exports.
Germany’s share fell from 30.9% in 2014 to 26.1% in 2025. However, its absolute export value still grew 24% over those 11 years. Other EU economies just grew faster.
Manufacturing contraction explains the shift. Germany’s automotive sector contracted as demand for combustion vehicles fell. The transition to electric vehicles also stalled. China, Germany’s largest trading partner until 2024, shifted from buyer to competitor in the automotive sector.
Energy costs also rose steeply after 2022. Energy-intensive industries contracted as a result.
Ireland and Slovenia More Than Doubled Their Share Through Pharmaceutical Exports
Ireland’s share of the total extra-EU exports rose from 3.0% to 6.5%. Pharmaceutical industry data show that over 90 multinational companies operate in the country. That includes Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Janssen, and AstraZeneca.
The 2025 figure is partly inflated. Irish companies front-loaded large shipments to the US in early 2025 ahead of anticipated tariffs. The underlying trend is real. However, the 2025 share overstates Ireland’s sustainable position.
Slovenia’s share rose from 0.4% to 1.7% over the same period. Pharmaceutical products account for 69% of Slovenia’s extra-EU exports. Sandoz subsidiary Lek and Krka are the primary drivers.
The four top positions in extra-EU exports did not change between 2014 and 2025. What shifted is the composition below them. Germany’s relative decline reflects specific pressures on traditional manufacturing. Ireland and Slovenia’s rise reflects where multinational pharmaceutical investment concentrated over the same period. Those two trends explain most of what changed.
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References
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tet00012__custom_21730324/default/table
- https://www.ipha.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pharma-in-Ireland-Goodbody-Report-for-IPHA-2026-1.pdf
- https://www.intellinews.com/slovenia-s-pharma-exports-take-830mn-hit-from-us-tariffs-403166
- https://fortune.com/europe/2025/02/25/weak-manufacturing-exports-german-economy-2024-eurozone/
