Importmenge

Importmenge is the quantity of goods and services a country imports within a given period. In economic statistics it refers to the physical or volume measure of imports, distinct from import value, which records expenditure in monetary terms. The import quantity can be reported in units such as tonnes or litres, or as a volume index that adjusts for price changes to reflect real changes in quantity.

In macroeconomic analysis, the import quantity is determined by a country’s import demand, which depends on factors such as domestic income (GDP), the relative prices of foreign and domestic goods, exchange rates, and trade policies. An increase in domestic income generally raises import demand, while higher domestic prices or changes in the exchange rate can affect the quantity depending on substitution effects and price movements. The concept is closely linked to the current account and balance of trade, as changes in the import quantity influence the value of imports and the trade balance.

Data on import quantity come from national statistical offices and international databases. In Germany, for example, Destatis provides import quantities alongside import values. International sources such as the IMF, World Bank, and OECD publish comparable series. Analysts use import quantity to assess trade intensity, structural change, and the responsiveness of demand to income and prices.