Slovakia
$30,000
Value added
Why gross exportscan be misleading
and why value added matters
Trade statistics tell us where goods are exported from.
But products often pass through several economies, and much of their value may have been created elsewhere.
How trade looks in standard export statistics
Slovakia produces a car worth $30,000 and exports it to Germany.
Germany then performs a small modification and ships the car to the final customer in China.
This is a simplified, hypothetical example. All values are illustrative.
In export statistics:
Slovakia exports $30,000
GermanyGermany exports $31,000
China$31,000 Car
Slovakia: $30,000Germany:$1,000
Most of the car's value was created in Slovakia
In Slovakia, the car is designed, assembled, and engineered.
This creates $30,000 of value added. In Germany, only $1,000 of value added is generated (e.g. painting or finishing).
Germany
$1,000
Value added
China
Consumer
Trade in value addedtells a different story
Policy conclusions depend on the lens you use
EXPLORE VALUE ATLASGross Trade
Slovakia → Germany
China is not visible as Slovakia's direct export destination
If we look only at gross exports: Slovakia appears dependent on Germany.
Value Added
Slovakia → China ($30k)
Germany → China ($1k)
China emerges as a key partner
If we look at value added: Slovakia is strongly linked to Chinese final demand.
This distinction matters for:
trade policy
supply-chain
risk analysis
value
creation
foreign demand
exposure
Where Germany’s Value Added Is Created
Why gross exports can be misleading
and why value added matters
Trade statistics tell us where goods are exported from.
But products often pass through several economies, and much of their value may have been created elsewhere.
FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE, TRY VALUE ATLAS ON A DESKTOP BROWSER.
How trade looks in standard export statistics
Slovakia produces a car worth $30,000 and exports it to Germany.
Germany then performs a small modification and ships the car to the final customer in China.
This is a simplified, hypothetical example. All values are illustrative.
In export statistics:
Slovakia exports $30,000GermanyGermany exports $31,000China$31,000 Car
Slovakia: $30,000Germany: $1,000Most of the car's value
was created in Slovakia
In Slovakia, the car is designed, assembled, and engineered. This creates $30,000 of value added. In Germany, only $1,000 of value added is generated.
Trade in value added
tells a different story
Policy conclusions depend on the
lens you use
Explore Value AtlasGross Trade
Slovakia → Germany
China is not visible as Slovakia’s direct export destination
If we look only at gross exports:
Slovakia appears dependent on Germany.
Value Added
Slovakia → China ($30k)
Germany → China ($1k)
China emerges as a key partner
Slovakia is strongly linked to Chinese final demand.
This distinction matters for:
trade policy
supply-chain risk analysis
value creation
foreign demand exposure