Importgüter

Importgüter are goods that originate outside the domestic economy and are imported to meet domestic demand or to serve as inputs in production. They can be consumer goods, such as electronics and clothing, or intermediate goods used in manufacture, as well as capital goods used for investment.

In macroeconomic terms, importgüter influence the current account and the balance of payments, and their prices contribute to inflation through import price pass-through. The volume of imports responds to domestic demand, income levels, and exchange rate movements; a stronger currency tends to reduce import volumes while a weaker currency tends to increase them. Imports compete with domestically produced goods and can be substituted with domestic alternatives depending on relative prices and quality.

Classification-wise, importgüter are often divided into Verbrauchsgüter (final consumption goods), Investitionsgüter (capital goods such as machinery and equipment), and Zwischenprodukte (intermediate goods used in production). The distinction matters for analyses of supply chains, production costs, and the structure of the economy.

Policy-wise, tariffs, duties, and non-tariff barriers regulate importgüter flows. Statistical data track imports by value and quantity and report the import share of GDP or domestic absorption. Price indices, such as the import price index, measure how changes in importgüter prices affect consumer and producer prices.

In a globalized economy, importgüter form a large and diverse component of demand and supply, creating exposure to international price and supply shocks while enabling specialization and a wide range of consumer choices.