Foreign demand for German goods held near record levels in July to help the country's trade surplus widen and provide momentum for the export economy.
Exports fell slightly in July compared with June but remained close to historical highs, Federal Statistics Office data showed today. By contrast, imports declined sharply.
In seasonally adjusted terms, the trade surplus grew to €16.5 billion from €15 billion in June.
Exports fell by an adjusted 0.1 per cent on the month, while imports fell 2.4 per cent.
DZ Bank economist Bernd Weidensteiner said foreign trade was generally supporting growth but added it was hard to predict how coming months would develop due to market unrest.
