Germany sees 1.4% rise in exports

German exports began the year strongly with a 1.4% rise in January over the previous month, official figures show.

Exports rose to €91.9bn in January from €90.6bn in December 2012, according to figures released today by the Federal Statistical Office, which adjusts values for calendar and seasonal effects.

With imports up 3.3% to €76.2bn, Germany had a trade surplus of €15.7bn in January.

Compared to January 2012, exports were up 3.1% in unadjusted terms.

Despite the ongoing financial crisis, exports to the European Union rose 2.1% over the year, while exports to the other 16 countries that use the euro grew 0.4%.

Those increases were dwarfed by the 4.5% rise in exports to countries outside the 27-country EU.