Germany’s exporters did significantly better business in May than a year earlier. Compared to the previous month of April, however, exports of goods fell by 0.5 percent, while imports rose by 2.7 percent, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on Monday in Wiesbaden.
Exports to Russia rose by 29.4 percent month-on-month to 1.0 billion euros in May, despite sanctions against the country following the attack on Ukraine and measures to restrict exports. In March and April they had fallen significantly.
Imports from the country fell by 9.8 percent to 3.3 billion euros compared to the previous month. The numbers were still high compared to the May imports of previous years. Russia mainly supplies raw materials and energy.
Within a year, exports “Made in Germany” rose sharply in May by 11.7 percent to 125.8 billion euros. Imports increased by 27.8 percent to 126.7 billion euros. Exports to Russia fell by 54.6 percent year-on-year.
Most German exports went to the USA – the value rose by 5.7 percent compared to April to 13.4 billion euros. Exports to China increased by 0.5 percent to 8.7 billion euros.
Most of the imports, worth 18.0 billion euros, came from the People’s Republic in May – but that was 1.6 percent less than in April. Goods worth 7.4 billion euros were delivered to Germany from the USA, an increase of 9.7 percent.
