SMEs see growing risks to their international competitiveness

Around one in ten German SMEs compete internationally in their domestic and foreign sales markets. Many of them still believe they are able to compete well internationally, according to the findings of a supplementary survey to the KfW SME Panel in April 2024. But there is also a small proportion of businesses that are lagging behind their foreign competitors. Their outlook on their future competitive position has clearly worsened since March 2023 and their worries about Germany as a business location have increased noticeably. Bureaucracy continues to be seen as the greatest challenge.

SMEs see growing risks to their international competitiveness(PDF, 328 KB, accessible)

Further information on Germany's strong link to the global economy