Import prices in June 2026: +6.1% compared with June 2025
Electricity prices rose by 70.8%, and oil prices by 32.1%—while agricultural prices fell significantly.
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Import prices in June 2026 were 6.1% higher than in June 2025. In May 2026, the year-over-year rate of change had been +6.8%, and in April 2026, it had been +5.3%. As the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) further reports, import prices in June 2026 fell by 0.7% compared with May 2026.
Export prices in June 2026 were 3.5% higher than in June 2025. This was the sharpest year-over-year increase since February 2023 (+6.6% compared with February 2022). In May 2026, the year-over-year rate of change had been +3.4%, and in April 2026, +2.9%. Compared with May 2026, export prices rose slightly by 0.1% in June 2026.
Imported intermediate goods and energy became significantly more expensive in the wake of the Iran war
Once again, the biggest factor influencing the overall trend in import prices in June 2026 compared with June 2025 was the rise in prices for intermediate goods, up 10.3% (-0.1% compared with May 2026), and for energy, up 23.9% (-6.6% compared with May 2026).
Among intermediate goods, non-ferrous metals and their semi-finished products in particular were significantly more expensive than in the same month of the previous year, rising by 27.5%, including precious metals and their semi-finished products, up 34.5%, and copper and its semi-finished products, up 30.3%. Prices for imported fertilizers and nitrogen compounds were also significantly higher than in June 2025 (+28.3%), as were prices for plastics in primary forms (+23.8%).
The war in the Middle East continued to have a particularly strong impact on energy prices compared with the same month a year earlier. Compared with June 2025, import prices for electricity (+70.8%), petroleum products (+36.0%), crude oil (+32.1%), hard coal (+12.1%), and natural gas (+8.3%). Compared to the previous month, May 2026, electricity in particular became more expensive (+12.7%). Prices for coal (+1.3%) and natural gas (+0.5%) rose only moderately compared to the previous month.
In contrast, prices for crude oil (-12.6%) and petroleum products (-9.9%) fell compared to May 2026. While prices for imported jet fuel derived from kerosene fell by 18.1%, for heavy heating oil by 13.8%, and for diesel fuel and light heating oil by 12.6% compared to the previous month—and motor gasoline also became -7.4%, lubricating oils and other oils, in particular, rose by 16.5% compared with May 2026.
Excluding energy prices, import prices in June 2026 rose by 4.3% compared with the same month a year earlier (+0.1% compared with May 2026). Excluding only crude oil and petroleum products, the import price index was 4.7% higher than in June 2025 (+0.2% compared to May 2026).
Imported capital goods were also more expensive compared to both the same month a year earlier and the previous month, rising by 2.9% compared to June 2025 and by 0.5% compared to May 2026.
Imported agricultural goods and consumer goods cheaper than a year ago
Imported agricultural goods were, on average, 6.5% cheaper in June 2026 than in the same month of the previous year (-2.0% compared with May 2026). Prices for raw cocoa were 42.4% lower than in June 2025, but rose by 8.1% compared to May 2026. Live hogs were also cheaper than in June 2025, down 32.1%. Compared with the previous month, they were also significantly cheaper, down 9.2%. Green coffee imports also cost 7.2% less than a year ago, but 2.5% more than in the previous month. The price of imported grain in June 2026 was lower than in June 2025 (-4.4%), but it was 0.5% higher than in May 2026.
Imported consumer goods (durables and non-durables) were 0.8% cheaper in June 2026 than in the previous year (+0.2% compared to May 2026). While prices for durable goods were 0.7% higher than in June 2025 (+0.2% compared to May 2026), prices for non-durable goods were 1.2% lower year-over-year (+0.1% compared to May 2026). Overall, food prices were 6.4% lower than in June 2025 (-0.5% compared with May 2026). Price declines were seen, among other items, for cocoa butter, cocoa fat, and cocoa oil (-48.6%), pork (-23.8%), and fruit and vegetable juices (-26.3%). Items that were more expensive than in June 2025 included shelled hazelnuts (+21.3%).
Impact of the Iran War Also Clearly Felt in Export Prices: Sharp Price Increases for Exported Intermediate Goods and Energy
In terms of export prices, the rise in prices for intermediate goods had the greatest impact on the year-over-year change rate due to their high weight in the overall index. Prices for intermediate goods were, on average, 6.0% higher than in June 2025 and 0.3% higher than in May 2026. For capital goods, the price level was 1.9% higher than in June 2025 (+0.3% compared to May 2026). Together, these two commodity groups account for nearly 75% of exported goods.
The effects of the war with Iran also continued to be felt in export prices: Prices for energy exports were 26.7% higher than in June 2025, but 3.7% lower than in May 2026. In particular, prices for petroleum products rose significantly by 32.1% compared to June 2025, but fell by 9.7% compared to May 2026. Among these, exports of jet fuel derived from kerosene were 46.1% more expensive than in the previous year, but were cheaper compared to the previous month (-19.6%). Natural gas was also more expensive compared to June 2025 (+12.7%). Compared to May 2026, prices rose by 0.3%.
Exported consumer goods (durable and non-durable goods, together accounting for about 21% of exports) were 0.3% more expensive than in June 2025. While prices for durable goods were 1.9% higher than in June 2025 (+0.2% compared to May 2026), prices for non-durable goods were 0.1% lower than in the same month of the previous year (+0.4% compared to May 2026).
Among non-durable goods, prices for food in particular fell (-5.9% compared to June 2025 and -0.3% compared to May 2026). Among other items, prices for cocoa mass, cocoa butter, cocoa fat, cocoa oil, and cocoa powder were significantly lower at -29.2% compared to June 2025 (-5.6% compared to May 2026). Pork was exported at prices 25.2% lower than in June 2025 (-4.6% compared to May 2026). Milk and dairy products were also cheaper on average, down 9.8% from a year ago (+1.5% compared to May 2026), particularly butter and other milk fats, which were down 45.2% compared to June 2025 (-1.7% compared with May 2026).
Agricultural goods were exported at prices 6.2% lower than in the same month of the previous year. Compared to May 2026, prices here fell by 1.4%.
Calculation of Foreign Trade Price Indices Excluding Taxes and Tariffs
The foreign trade price indices are calculated exclusively on the basis of the prices agreed upon in contracts at which domestic companies purchase goods from abroad or sell goods abroad. Taxes and customs duties are therefore not included in the calculation of the indices.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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