Italian imports to Germany in the first six months of 2007 rose 12 per cent over a year ago to 22.4 billion euros (33.1 billion dollars), the Federal Statistics Office confirmed Tuesday, according to dpa. The figures put Italy in fifth place in the list of top exporters to Europe's biggest economy, between the United States and Britain. Machinery, cars and spare parts accounted for more than a quarter of the imports, the statistics office said. During the same period, German exports to Italy climbed 12 per cent from a year ago to 33.7 billion euros, with cars and chemical products accounting for 36 per cent. The balance of trade between the two countries was 11.3 billion euros in Germany's favour.
