Key facts
- German exports increased by 0.9% in April, contrary to forecasts of a 0.5% decrease.
- Industrial production in Germany rose by 0.4% in April, below analyst predictions.
- Imports increased by 1.2% in April.
- Germany's trade surplus narrowed to €14.5 billion in April from €14.7 billion in March.
- German industrial orders fell by 3.8% in April.
German industrial production rose by 0.4% in April, less than the 0.5% increase analysts had predicted, according to the federal statistics office. This marks the first monthly increase since the start of the Iran war, though economists express limited optimism due to a four-month stagnation in German industry. A three-month comparison showed production was 0.5% lower from February to April than in the preceding three months. Revised data indicated a 0.1% decrease in March production compared to February, a smaller decline than the initially reported 0.7% fall.
Despite the weaker-than-expected production figures, German exports unexpectedly increased by 0.9% in April, surpassing the forecasted 0.5% decrease. Imports also saw a rise of 1.2% on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. Consequently, Germany's trade surplus slightly narrowed to €14.5 billion in April from €14.7 billion in March. Exports to EU countries rose by 1.0% and to non-EU countries by 0.7%. Exports to the United States increased by 1.8%, though they were down 12.9% compared to April 2025 due to U.S. tariffs. Imports from the U.S. rose by 7.6% for the month.