This is the unedited press release from Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland

WIESBADEN – According to provisional data of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Germany exported commodities to the value of EUR 84.6 billion and imported commodities to the value of EUR 67.7 billion in February 2008. German exports of February 2008 were thus 9.0% and imports 7.0% above the respective February 2007 levels. Upon calendar and seasonal adjustment, exports remained nearly unchanged on January 2008 and imports were down 0.4%.

The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of EUR 16.9 billion in February 2008. In February 2007, the surplus amounted to EUR 14.3 billion. Upon calendar and seasonal adjustment, the foreign trade balance recorded a surplus of EUR 16.4 billion in February 2008.

According to provisional results of the Deutsche Bundesbank, the current account of the balance of payments showed a surplus of EUR 15.4 billion in February 2008, which included the balance of services (EUR –0.0 billion), factor income (net) (EUR +4.2 billion), current transfers (EUR –5.0 billion) and supplementary trade items (EUR –0.6 billion). In February 2007, the German current account showed a surplus of EUR 11.4 billion.

In February 2008, Germany dispatched commodities to the value of EUR 54.7 billion to the Member States of the European Union, while it received commodities to the value of EUR 44.1 billion from those countries. Compared with February 2007, dispatches to and arrivals from the EU countries increased by 6.7% and 9.1%, respectively. Commodities to the value of EUR 36.3 billion (+5.6%) were dispatched to the euro area countries in February 2008, while the value of commodities received from those countries was EUR 30.7 billion (+8.6%). Commodities to the value of EUR 18.3 billion (+9.1%) were dispatched to EU countries not belonging to the euro area in February 2008, while the value of the commodities which arrived from those countries was EUR 13.4 billion (+10.2%).

Germany exported commodities to the value of EUR 30.0 billion to and imported commodities to the value of EUR 23.6 billion from countries outside the European Union (third countries) in February 2008. Compared with February 2007, exports to third countries were up by 13.5% and imports from those countries by 3.3%.


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