Tag Archives: Exports

The Duracell Bunny we are not

July 25, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Thanks again, China.

German battery maker Varta files insolvency applications – German battery manufacturer Varta has filed four ​insolvency applications, a spokesperson for ‌the Stuttgart district court said on Friday, marking another setback for ​the company.

Reuters reported on ​Thursday that Varta planned to ⁠file for insolvency after ​its shareholders sports car maker ​Porsche AG and Austrian investor Michael Tojner declined to provide additional funding ​to the struggling company.

Varta ​now faces a potential breakup: Key creditors, ‌including ⁠Deutsche Bank, intend to take over the profitable household battery business, while Tojner has ​expressed interest ​in ⁠the micro-battery division.

Varta lost its key customer ​in the spring: Apple ​plans ⁠to source the rechargeable “CoinPower” button cells for its AirPods headphones ⁠from ​China in the ​future.

Made in Germany

July 3, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Hi-tech, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Germany doesn’t have to come back.

It never left in the first place. Not when it comes to war technology.

AI drones made in Germany see duty on Ukraine’s front line – The German defense company Helsing is supplying combat drones to Ukraine and will soon provide them to the Bundeswehr.

In a forested strip, two Ukrainian soldiers — a technician and an electrician — attach wings to a large black box. The kit is an HX-2 combat drone from the German manufacturer Helsing, equipped with artificial intelligence.

The billion-dollar startup from Bavaria is supplying thousands of these to the Ukrainian military, funded by the German government. Germany’s armed forces have also recently awarded Helsing a multimillion-euro contract.

De-risk is de-problem

May 27, 2026 By in Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hard Facts, Hurt Feelings, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

No de-risk, no fun?

Germany’s China problem – and why de-risking hasn’t worked.

Dan Wang of Eurasia Group discusses the paradox of Europe’s current trade strategy, noting that Germany’s efforts to “de-risk” over the past years have actually deepened its reliance on China’s supply chain.

Deeper ties to China?

May 3, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Smart move, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein).

Reminds me of those deeper ties to Russia right before the war in Ukraine broke out.

German state eyes deeper China cooperation in energy, innovation – Significant potential exists to deepen cooperation between the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein and east China’s Zhejiang Province, particularly in energy transition, hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, according to Daniel Guenther, minister president of Schleswig-Holstein.

His remarks come as the two regions mark 40 years of partnership, with both sides seeking to expand ties despite an increasingly complex geopolitical and trade environment.

Germany warning China again

February 26, 2026 By in Helplessness, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

China still not giving a lā shǐ.

Germany’s Leader Delivers a Blunt Warning to China on Trade – Chancellor Friedrich Merz laid out his complaints in a frank message to his hosts on a trip to Beijing that China had designed to showcase their relationship.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany arrived in China on Wednesday with an outstretched hand and a list of complaints for his hosts, asking for closer diplomatic ties but also relief from economic policies that he said were impeding “fair competition.”

Rebound?

February 25, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

More like a dead cat bounce.

German Economy Grows by 0.3% in Q4, Stats Office Says – The German ​economy ‌grew ‌by ⁠0.3% in ⁠the fourth quarter ​of ​2025 compared ⁠with ⁠the ⁠previous quarter, the ​statistics ​office ⁠said ⁠on Wednesday, confirming its ⁠preliminary reading.

Meanwhile… German auto exports to China plunged by a third in 2025, economic institute says.

Germany + China = Shock

February 23, 2026 By in Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hard Facts Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

For Germany.

“The China shock is here,” the German Economic Institute declared last year. Indeed, 2025 will go down as the year in which it could no longer be denied. Germany’s trade deficit with China reached a record level of €87 billion—an increase of €20 billion compared to the previous year. And German exports to China continue to be in free fall. The United States, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy have by now become more important export markets for Germany than China.

Maybe not the best top trading partner to have.

A Tale of Two Headlines

February 21, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

“German business lobby warns of unfair trade practices by China” vs. “China overtakes US to become Germany’s top trading partner.”

China has overtaken the US as Germany’s most important trading partner, according to figures released by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Friday.

The sum of exports and imports between the two countries last year totaled €251.8 billion ($296.6 billion), a 2.1% increase, according to Destatis.

China was Germany’s most important trading partner from 2016 all the way through to 2023. In 2024, the US briefly held the title.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also set to visit China next week, where he is set to discuss trade and other topics.

“Learn to code?”

December 8, 2025 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Forget that one, right? Get a job with a German armaments firm instead.

That’s the only industry booming over here at the moment.

German Shipbuilder TKMS Reports Rise in Sales, Earnings Fueled by Europe’s Defense Spending – Results are first since spinning off from Thyssenkrupp and its Frankfurt IPO.

German of the day: Hin und her

November 17, 2025 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

That means back and forth. To and fro. Undecided.

“Until further notice” is now. For now.

The German government says it’s lifting restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel – The German government said Monday that it’s lifting its restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel, weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in early August that Berlin wouldn’t authorize any exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.” That was a response to a decision by the Israeli Cabinet to take over Gaza City.