As reported by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in 2012 motor vehicles and parts thereof accounted for €190 billion or 17.3 percent of Germany's total exports and, as in past years, were the most important German export goods. Based on provisional figures, Destatis also reported that motor vehicle exports increased by 2.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.
In 2012, machinery and equipment followed motor vehicles with a share of 14.9 percent and €163.6 billion, while basic metals ranked sixth among the products of the country with the highest export value with €58 billion.