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German Trade Surplus Smallest in 19 Years
Germany's trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 3.5 billion in April 2020, the smallest since December 2000, as both exports and imports dropped at record rates amid the coronavirus pandemic. Exports slumped 31.1 percent due to lower sales to the European Union (-34.8 percent), mostly to France (-48.3 percent) and Italy (-40.1 percent). In addition, sales to third countries fell 27 percent, in particular to the UK (-42.1 percent), the US (-35.8 percent) and China (-12.6 percent). Imports tumbled 21.6 percent, as purchases from the EU plunged 30.1 percent, in particular from France (-37.3 percent) and Italy (-32.5 percent). Imports from third countries also dropped 11.4 percent despite increases in purchases from China (10 percent), the UK (8.8 percent) and the US (2.4 percent). On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 3.2 billion, missing market consensus of EUR 10 billion, with exports and imports falling the most since August 1990.
Published on 2020-06-09

Bond Yields Rise
The US and most euro zone bond yields rose on Monday, as investors anticipated further steps from policymakers to soften the economic blow of the coronavirus pandemic. Traders weighed efforts to reopen economies against concerns over the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 that could lead to future lockdowns.
Published on 2020-05-11

German Trade Surplus Narrows in March
Germany's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 17.4 billion in March 2020 from EUR 22.3 billion in the same month of the previous year, as exports plunged 7.9 percent due to lower sales to the European Union (-11.0 percent), of which the Eurozone (-14.0 percent). In addition, sales to third countries dropped 4.3 percent, in particular to the UK (-9.0 percent). Imports dropped 4.5 percent, as purchases from the EU plunged 8.0 percent, in particular from the Euro area (-7.8 percent). Imports from third countries also fell 0.1 percent, especially from the UK (-14.6 percent). On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus narrowed sharply to EUR 12.8 billion, missing market consensus of EUR 18.9 billion, with exports and imports falling by 11.8 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.
Published on 2020-05-08

German Trade Surplus Largest in 4 Months
Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR 20.8 billion in February 2020, the largest since October, from EUR 17.8 billion in the same month of the previous year. Exports went up 0.4 percent led by sales to EU countries outside the Eurozone (6.2 percent). Meanwhile, exports to the bloc fell 1.3 percent and those to third countries edged down 0.1 percent, due to lower sales to China (-8.9 percent). Imports dropped 2.9 percent, as purchases from the bloc plunged 3.3 percent, while those from EU countries outside the Eurozone rose 1.3 percent. Imports from third countries dropped 4.1 percent mostly on the back of a 12 percent tumble in purchases from China. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus widened to EUR 21.6 billion, beating market consensus of EUR 17.5 billion.
Published on 2020-04-09

German Trade Surplus Smallest in 4 Years
Germany's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 13.9 billion in January 2020 from EUR 14.5 billion in the same month of the previous year. This was the smallest trade surplus since January 2016, as exports dropped 2.1 percent led by lower sales to third countries (-2.0 percent), in particular to China (-6.5 percent). Also, there was a decline in exports to the UK (-16.3 percent) and the EU (-2.2 percent), of which the Eurozone (-1.8 percent) and non-Eurozone countries (-2.9 percent). Imports dropped at a softer 1.8 percent, as purchases from the EU fell 2.5 percent due to a 5.4 percent plunge in imports from the Eurozone. Meanwhile, imports from non-Eurozone countries rose 3.0 percent and purchases from the UK jumped 14.5 percent. Imports from third countries dropped by 0.9 percent led by lower purchases from China (-0.5 percent). On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 18.5 billion from a revised EUR 19.0 billion, still beating consensus of EUR 15.4 billion.
Published on 2020-03-09

German Trade Surplus Widens in December
Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR 15.2 billion in December 2019 from EUR 14.1 billion in the same month of the previous year, as exports rose 2.3 percent boosted by sales to third countries (7.3 percent). Meanwhile, there was a decline in exports to the EU (-1.5 percent) of which Eurozone (-2.0 percent) and non-Eurozone countries (-0.5 percent). Imports increased at a softer 1.2 percent, as purchases rose from third countries (5.7 percent) and non-Euro zone countries (3.7 percent). Imports from the bloc, however, slumped 4.9 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus rose to EUR 19.2 billion, above consensus of EUR 18.4 billion. Considering 2019 full year, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 223.6 billion from EUR 228.7 billion in 2018, with exports and imports rising 0.8 percent and 1.4 percent respectively.
Published on 2020-02-07

German Trade Surplus Narrows in November
Germany's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 18.3 billion in November 2019 from EUR 20.2 billion in the same month the previous year, as exports fell 2.9 percent on the back of lower sales to both the EU (-2.4 percent) and non-EU countries (-3.5 percent). Meanwhile, imports declined at a softer 1.6 percent as purchases from the EU dropped 1.4 percent and those from third countries fell 1.8 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus was also down to EUR 18.3 billion from a marginally revised EUR 20.4 billion in October and below market consensus of EUR 20 billion. Exports dropped 2.3 percent, much worse than expectations of a 0.5 percent fall; while imports declined 0.5 percent, missing forecasts of a 0.2 percent growth.
Published on 2020-01-09

German Trade Surplus Widens in October
Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR 21.5 billion in October 2019 from EUR 18.7 billion in the same month of the previous year. Exports rose 1.9 percent to EUR 119.5 billion while imports declined 0.6 percent to EUR 98.0 billion. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the country's trade surplus unexpectedly increased to EUR 20.6 billion in October from EUR 19.2 billion in September, above market consensus of EUR 19 billion, as exports rose 1.2 percent, easily beating expectations of a 0.7 percent fall; while imports were flat compared to consensus of a 0.1 percent decline.
Published on 2019-12-09

German Trade Surplus Widens in September
Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR 21.1 billion in September 2019 from EUR 18.2 billion in the same month last year, as exports advanced 4.6 percent to EUR 114.2 billion, while imports grew 2.3 percent to EUR 93 billion. Considering the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 168.8 billion from EUR 175.8 billion in the corresponding period 2018.
Published on 2019-11-08

German Trade Surplus Narrows in August
Germany's trade surplus narrowed to EUR 16.2 billion in August 2019 from EUR 17.6 billion in the same month last year, as exports declined 3.9 percent to EUR 101.2 billion and imports shrank 3.1 percent to EUR 85 billion. Considering the first eight months of the year, the trade surplus shrank to EUR 147.5 billion from EUR 156.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2018.
Published on 2019-10-10

German Trade Surplus Widens Sharply in July
Germany's trade surplus widened to EUR 21.4 billion in July 2019 from EUR 16.4 billion in the same month last year, as exports rose 3.8 percent while imports fell 0.9 percent. Considering the first seven months of the year, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 131.1 billion from EUR 138.8 billion in the corresponding period of 2018. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus widened to EUR 20.2 billion in July from a revised EUR 18.0 billion in June and above market consensus of EUR 17.5 billion. Exports went up 0.7 percent, easily beating expectations of a 0.5 percent drop; while imports declined 1.5 percent, worse than market consensus of a 0.3 percent fall.
Published on 2019-09-09

German Trade Surplus Narrows in June
The German trade surplus narrowed to EUR 16.8 billion in June 2019 from EUR 22.0 billion in the same month a year earlier, as exports tumbled 8 percent and imports declined at a softer 4.4 percent. Considering the first half of the year, the trade surplus decreased to EUR 109.9 billion from EUR 122.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2018. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 18.1 billion in June from EUR 18.7 billion in June, missing market consensus of EUR 18.6 billion. Exports fell 0.1 percent, matching expectations, while imports rose 0.5 percent, beating consensus of a 0.3 percent gain.
Published on 2019-08-09

German Trade Surplus Widens in May
The German trade surplus widened slightly to EUR 20.6 billion in May 2019 from EUR 20.0 billion in the same month a year earlier, as exports advanced 4.5 percent to EUR 113.9 billion and imports rose 4.9 percent to EUR 93.4 billion. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus increased to EUR 18.7 billion in May from a revised EUR 16.9 billion in April, beating market consensus of EUR 17 billion. Exports rose by 1.1 percent, above expectations of a 0.5 percent growth; while imports fell unexpectedly by 0.5 percent, against consensus of a 0.3 percent gain.
Published on 2019-07-08

German Trade Surplus Narrows as Exports Fall
The German trade surplus narrowed to EUR 17.9 billion in April 2019 from EUR 20.4 billion in the same month a year earlier. This was the smallest trade surplus since January, as exports declined 0.5 percent while imports rose 2.1 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus decreased to EUR 17 billion in April from EUR 20 billion in March and missing market consensus of EUR 18.6 billion. Exports dropped by 3.7 percent, worse than expectations of a 0.9 percent decline; and imports fell 1.3 percent, compared to consensus of a 0.2 percent fall.
Published on 2019-06-07

German Trade Surplus Narrows in March
The German trade surplus narrowed to EUR 22.7 billion in March 2019 from EUR 24.6 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports climbed 4.5 percent from a year earlier to EUR 95.6 billion while exports rose at a softer 1.9 percent to EUR 118.3 billion. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus rose to EUR 20 billion in March from EUR 18.7 billion in February and beating market consensus of EUR 18.2 billion. Exports grew unexpectedly by 1.5 percent, beating expectations of a 0.3 percent decline; while imports went up 0.4 percent, slightly below consensus of a 0.5 percent rise.
Published on 2019-05-10

German Trade Surplus Narrows in February
The German trade surplus narrowed slightly to EUR 17.9 billion in February 2019 from EUR 18.3 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports increased 5.1 percent while exports advanced at a slower 3.9 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus came in at EUR 18.7 billion in February, little-changed from a marginally revised EUR 18.6 billion in January and above market expectations of EUR 18.0 billion. Imports dropped 1.6 percent, worse than market consensus of a 0.7 percent fall; while exports went down 1.3 percent, compared to expectations of a 0.5 percent decline.
Published on 2019-04-08

German Trade Surplus Narrows in January
The German trade surplus decreased to EUR 14.5 billion in January 2019 from EUR 17.2 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports rose 5.0 percent to EUR 94.4 billion, while exports grew at a softer 1.7 percent to EUR 108.9 billion.
Published on 2019-03-11

German Trade Surplus Smallest in Nearly 3 Years
The German trade surplus decreased to EUR 13.9 billion in December 2018 from EUR 18.4 billion in the same month a year earlier. It was the smallest trade surplus since January 2016, mainly due to a sharp decline in exports. Considering 2018 full year, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 227.8 billion from EUR 247.9 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus widened to EUR 19.4 billion in December from a downwardly revised EUR 18.9 billion in November and above market expectations of EUR 18.4 billion. Exports grew by 1.5 percent, easily beating market expectations of a 0.2 percent gain, while imports advanced at a softer 1.2 percent and way above forecasts of a 0.2 percent rise.
Published on 2019-02-08

German Trade Surplus Narrows in November
The German trade surplus decreased to EUR 20.5 billion in November 2018 from EUR 23.8 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports rose 3.6 percent while exports were nearly unchanged. Considering January to November, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 214.2 billion from EUR 229.5 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Published on 2019-01-09

German Trade Surplus Narrows in October
The German trade surplus decreased to EUR 18.3 billion in October 2018 from EUR 19.1 billion in the same month a year earlier. Imports jumped 11.3 percent to EUR 98.9 billion and exports increased at a slower 8.5 percent to EUR 117.2 billion. Considering January to October 2018, the trade surplus narrowed to EUR 192.5 billion from EUR 205.7 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus narrowed slightly to EUR 17.3 billion in October from an upwardly revised EUR 17.7 billion in September and below market expectations of EUR 17.7 billion. Imports increased by 1.3 percent, against market consensus of a 0.4 percent rise, and exports rose at a slower 0.7 percent, still beating expectations of a 0.5 percent advance.
Published on 2018-12-10