Germany's exports unexpectedly fell by 1.4% in May, posing challenges for economic recovery.

Reuters: Germany's exports unexpectedly fell 1.4% in May, putting pressure on economic recovery

Reuters reported on July 8 that data released by the German Federal Statistical Office on Tuesday showed that exports declined by 1.4% month-on-month in May, far exceeding the expected 0.2% decline according to Reuters' survey, highlighting the continued weakness of external demand for Europe's largest economy. This is the third consecutive month of declining exports in Germany, with the revised April data showing a decline of 0.2%. Economists pointed out that escalating global trade tensions and weak growth in the eurozone are the main factors dragging down the economy. Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING, said, "Germany's industry has not yet found its bottom, and shrinking orders and high inventory levels mean that exports are unlikely to rebound in the short term." Data shows that exports to EU member states fell by 1.0% in May, while exports to non-EU countries fell by as much as 2.0%. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) previously warned that geopolitical tensions and trade barriers could reduce the 2025 export growth outlook to 1.2%, below the long-term average. The statistical office stated that imports increased slightly by 0.1% month-on-month, and the trade surplus narrowed to 15.6 billion euros.

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