January Sees a Decline in Germany's Trade Surplus

In a recent report by the Federal Statistical Office Destatis, Germany's trade surplus for January was recorded at €16 billion. This figure marks a noticeable decrease from December's €20.7 billion and a significant drop from January 2024's €25.3 billion, falling short of market expectations.

Exports and Imports: A Detailed Look

Adjusted for seasonal and calendar variations, Germany's goods exports amounted to €129.2 billion, experiencing a 2.5% decrease month-on-month and a slight 0.1% decline year-on-year. On the other hand, imports saw an uptick, reaching €113.1 billion, which is a 1.2% increase from the previous month and an 8.7% rise compared to the same month last year.

Trade Dynamics Within and Outside the EU

Trade with EU countries showed a downturn, with exports falling by 4.2% to €69.8 billion and imports decreasing by 1.1% to €57 billion. Conversely, trade with non-EU countries presented a mixed picture; exports slightly decreased by 0.4% to €59.4 billion, while imports surged by 3.7% to €56.1 billion.