With an annual import volume of 674 bn Euros in 2009, Germany is the world’s third biggest import nation. The German economy depends to a large degree on imports from countries outside the EU.

The German consumer can choose from a wide variety of goods of domestic and foreign origin. Especially consumer goods manufactured in developing countries play an important role in the procurement strategy of German retail and trading companies.

However, for many foreign companies especially SMEs, it is not easy to get access to the German market. Lack of information, financial risks, and legal constraints may hinder exporters from placing their goods on the German market successfully. At this point, a German importer may help.

Exporters can use the diverse and broad services of German import trading companies for marketing, selling and distributing their products on the German market, and even within the EU. German importers act as intermediaries between suppliers abroad and customers in Europe.