Germany's foreign trade surplus narrowed in August, amid an increase in imports and a drop in exports, provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office showed.
The calendar- and seasonally adjusted trade surplus came in at €18.1 billion in August, after a revised €20.5 billion balance in July. On a monthly basis after adjustments, exports fell 1.8% to €109.2 billion, while imports grew 0.5% to €91.1 billion.
Germany posted an unadjusted trade surplus of €16.2 billion in August, down from €21.6 billion in July. Compared to a year earlier, exports fell 3.9% in August to €101.2 billion, while imports slipped 3.1% to €85.0 billion.
Exports to EU countries declined 3.3% year over year in August, while shipments to countries outside the European Union fell 4.8%. Imports from EU countries fell by 2.7%, while those from non-EU countries dropped 3.6%.
Germany's foreign trade surplus declined to €147.5 billion in the first eight months of 2019 from €156.4 billion in the year-ago period.
Germany's current account surplus fell to €16.9 billion in August from €21.3 billion in the prior month.
