Merchants are not just participants in the digital euro project – they are its driving force, said Executive Board member Burkhard Balz during an event in Brussels. Representatives from politics, business and trade discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by a digital euro during the conference entitled The digital €uro: a game changer for European merchants.

XML format can be used to submit payment reports pursuant to Annexes Z 4, Z 8 and Z 10 to Z 15 to the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation. Files can be transmitted using an internet browser or, for larger volumes of data, using an automatic procedure.

Stock reports pursuant to Annexes Z 5, Z 5a and Z 5b to the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation can be submitted via file transfer in different file formats.

Monthly turnover data are available for industry and the retail trade sector. Quarterly time series are published for the services sector. The results for the retail trade are also included in the calculation of private consumption.

Statutory basis, implementation provisions, Bundesbank notices and circulars

Germany’s current account recorded a surplus of €14.8 billion in October 2025, down €1.0 billion on the previous month’s level. 

Here you will find general information on the balance of payments as well as the international standards on which the concept and methodology of the German balance of payments are based.

On this page you will find relevant code lists on reports in external sector.