Germany’s exports to China surge

Berlin: Germany is bettering its European rivals in the race to harness Chinese growth as exports to the Asian nation begin to outstrip those to the US.

With its consumers and companies sating their appetite for power turbines, cars and electronics, China became Germany’s largest non-European customer at the end of last year, helping drive up share prices from BASF to BMW.

Economists expect data today to show German exports rose the most in five months in February as China’s share of foreign sales continues to grow.

“This is a turning point in Germany’s economic history,” said Andreas Rees, chief Germany economist at UniCredit Markets and Investment in Munich. “China could become the largest export market of all by 2015.”