Germany: Merchandise exports contract in May
Merchandise exports fell 3.6% on a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis in May, contrasting April’s 1.7% increase. The result marked the sharpest drop since December 2023. Meanwhile, merchandise imports fell 6.6% on a monthly basis in May (April: +1.2% s.a. mom), marking the weakest reading since December 2022.
As a result, the merchandise trade balance deteriorated from the previous month, recording a USD 22.0 billion surplus in May (April 2024: USD 23.8 billion surplus; May 2023: USD 15.1 billion surplus). Lastly, the trend pointed up, with the 12-month trailing merchandise trade balance recording a USD 254.4 billion surplus in May, compared to the USD 247.5 billion surplus in April.