German exports hold up against euro rise, data show

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

FRANKFURT (AFP) — German exports stagnated in February but rose strongly year-on-year, data showed Wednesday, adding to recent evidence that Europe's largest economy is holding up well despite the rise in the euro.

Figures from the federal statistics office showed that exports, adjusted for seasonal effects, were flat from January at 84.6 billion euros (133 billion dollars), but were up 9.0 percent year-on-year.

Imports were down by 0.4 percent at 67.7 billion euros from January and were up 7.0 percent from a year earlier.

As a result Germany's trade surplus edged lower to 16.9 billion euros from 17.1 billion in January. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected a much bigger drop, to 15.2 billion euros.

Strong exports to other countries with...