German exports rose unexpectedly in August as demand from the United States and China picked up, official data showed Wednesday, offering a rare bright spot for Europe鈥檚 struggling top聽economy.
Exports climbed by 1.3 per cent on the previous month and stood at 131.9 billion euros ($144.7 billion), federal statistics agency Destatis said.
It was the second monthly increase in a row and surprised analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet who had predicted a 1.8-per cent drop in exports.
The increase was led by a 5.5-per cent jump in exports to the United States, once again the biggest importer of 鈥榤ade in Germany鈥� goods.
Exports to China, Germany鈥檚 top trading partner in 2023, rose by 1.9 per cent.
Shipments to fellow European Union countries inched up 0.8 per cent, Destatis said.
Germany imported 109.4 billion euros worth of goods in August, down 3.4 per cent on a month earlier, with its trade surplus coming in at 22.5 billion euros.
High energy prices following Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine, a manufacturing slump and sluggish private consumption have all weighed heavily on the German聽economy, which shrank in 2023.
A hoped-for recovery has failed to materialise so far and the聽economy聽ministry is expected to unveil sharply downgraded forecasts later on Wednesday.聽
According to media reports, Berlin will say it now sees a 0.2-per cent contraction in 2024.
