Germany's trade surplus rose in May - Destatis

According to the provisional data from Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Germany exported goods to the value of 113.9 billion euros and imported goods to the value of 93.4 billion euros in May 2019. Destatis also reports that German exports increased by 4.5% and imports by 4.9% in May 2019 year on year. After calendar and seasonal adjustment, exports were up 1.1% compared April 2019, while imports were down 0.5%.

The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 20.6 billion euros in May 2019. In May 2018, the surplus amounted to +20.0 billion euros. In calendar and seasonally adjusted terms, the foreign trade balance recorded a surplus of 18.7 billion euros in May 2019.

In May 2019, Germany exported goods to the value of 66.1 billion euros to the Member States of the European Union (EU), while it imported goods to the value of 54.2 billion euros from those countries. Compared with May 2018, exports to EU countries increased by 0.6%, and imports from those countries by 4.7%. Goods to the value of 42.3 billion euros (+3.8%) were exported to the Euro area countries in May 2019, while the value of the goods imported from those countries was 35.8 billion euros (+8.7%). In May 2019, goods to the value of 23.8 billion euros (-4.8%) were exported to EU countries not belonging to the Euro area, while the value of the goods imported from those countries was 18.4 billion euros (-2.3%).