Germany's Trade Surplus Climbs in May

In a surprising turn of events, Germany's trade surplus expanded to €18.4 billion in May, up from €15.7 billion in April, according to the Federal Statistical Office Destatis. This figure, however, marks a decrease from €22.3 billion recorded in May 2024, yet it still surpassed analysts' forecasts.

Exports and Imports Show Mixed Trends

Seasonally adjusted goods exports reached €129.4 billion, witnessing a slight monthly decline of 1.4% but a modest annual increase of 0.4%. On the other hand, imports rose to €116.5 billion, showing a 3.9% increase from April and a 3.8% rise compared to the previous year.

Trade Dynamics Within and Outside the EU

Trade with EU countries saw exports drop by 2.2% to €71.3 billion and imports fall by 3.6% to €57.7 billion. Meanwhile, exports to non-EU countries slightly decreased by 0.3% to €58.1 billion, with imports also declining by 4.1% to €53.3 billion.