German exports rose in December, but industrial production fell more than expected, showing that the outlook for the euro zone’s largest economy remains anything but rosy.
German exports rose by 2.9% in December compared with the previous month, data from the federal statistics office showed today.
The result compared with a 0.6% decrease forecast in a Reuters poll.
Exports to EU countries rose by 5.9% on the month, while exports to countries outside of the EU fell by 0.5%.
Imports rose by 2.1% on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis compared with November.
The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of €20.7 billion in December, up from €19.2 billion in November 2024.
Meanwhile, German industrial production fell more than expected in December, decreasing by 2.4% compared with the previous month, the federal statistics office said today.
Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 0.6% fall.
German industrial orders rose by 6.9% on the previous month in December due to substantial growth in large-scale orders such as aircraft, ships, trains and military vehicles, the federal statistics office said this week.
