German exports rose more than expected in June, data released Wednesday showed, as Europe's biggest economy managed to withstand the stronger euro, according to dpa. Seasonally adjusted exports rose 2.1 per cent from May when they fell 0.9 per cent, the federal statistics office said. Analysts had predicted the June figures would show an increase of 1.5 per cent. Exports rose about 12 per cent on the year on the back of sturdy global economic growth with the latest data helping to confirm Germany's position as the world's leading export nation. The June increase in exports came despite a strong performance by the euro, which has been trading near record highs in recent weeks. Exports to Germany's eurozone partners gained about 10 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, the statistics office said. In the meantime, exports outside the 27-member European Union jumped 13.1 per cent on the year. The statistics office data also added to optimism about the outlook for the German economy with imports rising by 7 per cent in June. Imports rose 9 per cent compared to the same month last year. The latest trade figures also come in the wake of data showing a strong rise in German factory orders and a further fall in seasonally adjusted unemployment. However, the nation's output slipped by 0.4 per cent in June after posting a solid increase in May. Analysts had forecast a 0.5-per-cent rise in June. Surprising even the optimists, economic growth in Germany this year is expected to match the perky 2.8 per cent expansion rate that the nation chalked up in 2006. With exports continuing to outpace imports, Germany posted a foreign trade surplus of 16.5 billion euros (22.7 billion dollars) in June. In June 2006, the nation's trade surplus stood at 13.1 billion euros. Provisional figures from the Bundesbank put the current account surplus at 16.6 billion euros in June. In June 2006, the German current account showed a surplus of 12.0 billion euros.
