📈 The Shift in Global Manufacturing Exports: U.S., Germany, and Japan Decline as China Rises

From the 1980s to 2023, the combined share of the four major manufacturing exporters—China, the U.S., Germany, and Japan—remained around 41% of global manufacturing exports. However, their individual roles shifted dramatically. Germany’s share fell from 14.8% in 1980 to 9.5% in 2024, the U.S. declined from 13.0% to 7.9%, and Japan plunged from 11.2% to 3.9%. Meanwhile, China’s share skyrocketed from just 0.8% in 1980 to 20.0% in 2024. Germany was the top global manufacturing exporter from 1980–1983, followed by Japan (1984–1985), Germany again (1986–1992), the U.S. (1993–2002), and finally China, which has held the top position since 2003.