Key facts
- German exports fell 0.8% in August.
- The trade surplus narrowed to €19.5 billion.
- Imports rose by 0.9% in August.
Germany's exports unexpectedly decreased by 0.8% in August from the previous month, according to data released by the federal statistics office on Thursday. This figure fell short of the 0.6% increase that had been forecast in a Reuters poll. The decline was partly attributed to a sharp drop in exports to the United States. Concurrently, imports rose by 0.9%, leading to a narrowed trade surplus of €19.5 billion.