China’s global expansion offers German firms opportunity, but they see window narrowing
German chamber notes how some members see ‘golden window to partner up’ with Chinese companies as competition, trade tensions and possible EU measures raise risks
While German companies operating in China increasingly view the global expansion of local firms as a chance to collaborate, the window of opportunity is narrowing as Chinese firms rapidly develop the expertise needed to expand overseas on their own, according to a new report.
The internalisation of Chinese companies has emerged as the most frequently cited business opportunity for German firms in China, selected by 36 per cent of survey respondents and up from 20 per cent in 2022, according to a report published on Thursday by the German Chamber of Commerce in China.
Engagement takes several forms, with nearly half of surveyed German businesses supplying products or services to Chinese companies operating abroad, while a quarter help those companies meet international standards.
But the report – which drew on findings from the chamber’s 2025-2026 business-confidence survey of 627 member companies, as well as interviews with 11 executives between April and June this year – noted that these opportunities to collaborate would not last indefinitely.