Non-EU markets boost German export surplus as euro weakens
GERMANY’S trade surplus climbed marginally in February compared with the previous month, according to figures released yesterday by the country’s official statistical office Destatis.
The excess of exports over imports edged up slightly to €16.2bn in February (£11.8bn) from €15.9bn in January.
Exports and imports both increased. Germany – the Eurozone’s largest economy – exported €95.7bn worth of goods, up 6.5 per cent on the month while imports climbed 3.2 per cent to £76.5bn.
Exports to non-Eurozone countries have climbed by 4.9 per cent on the month and 6.4 per cent on the year, following a sustained fall in the value of the euro.
Meanwhile, Germany’s industrial production growth rose in February, official figures showed yesterday. It climbed 0.2 per cent, but January’s data was revised down from 0.6 per cent to a 0.4 per cent contraction, leaving annual growth at minus 0.3 per cent.