US Corporate Giants

Oil giant ExxonMobil led the list of the 50 top-selling US companies in Germany, raking in an estimated 17 billion euros in German sales in 2006, according to the survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Germany.

Behind them were well-known brands such as carmakers Adam Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors (15.6 billion euros) and Ford (15.3 billion euros). General Electric (9 billion euros) filled out the top five. The chamber released its annual figures on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Most expect increased sales revenues

The survey, which was conducted before instability hit international financial markets as a result of the US subprime mortgage crisis, showed business was going well for US subsidiaries located in Germany. Approximately 80 percent of businesses surveyed by the chamber expected an increase in sales revenues from 2006 compared with 2005.

Before the subprime crisis, Germany's AmCham President Fred B. Irwin said he would've expected sales increases of between 10 percent and 12 percent for 2007. With the market instability Irwin said the growth rate is more likely to be 3 percent to 4 percent, Irwin told the DPA news agency.

US firms invest more in Germany than in any other country, according to the chamber.

"For US firms, Germany is an attractive location," said chamber vice president Norbert Quinkert.

AmCham would like to see market reforms

McDonalds leads the pack as the biggest US employer in Germany with 52,000 people working at its offices and franchises. Ford employs 24,000 people and Opel 23,726, according to the chamber.

A strong proponent of free-market capitalism, AmCham's Irwin said Germany needs to further reform working conditions and working hours to make them more flexible. He also advocated additional hiring and firing leeway for employers. The chamber also wants to see Germany abolish the minimum wage.

These changes would help the ease the country's long-term unemployment, Irwin said.

The German government "must be aware that it currently sets the course for a sustainable Germany in the coming years and decades," Irwin said.

The other US companies in the association's top ten were: IBM (8 billion euros), Philip Morris (6.9 billion euros), ConocoPhillips (6.8 billion euros), Motorola (5.8 billion euros), Hewlett-Packard (5.9 billion euros) and Proctor & Gamble (4.8 billion euros).