Germany's foreign trade surplus widened in July as exports rose and imports declined, provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office showed.
The calendar- and seasonally adjusted trade surplus increased to €20.2 billion in July from €18.0 billion in June. Exports ticked up 0.7% to €111.2 billion, while imports fell 1.5% to €91.0 billion.
The unadjusted trade surplus came in at €21.4 billion, up from €16.6 billion a month ago. Compared to a year earlier, exports increased 3.8% in July, while imports slipped 0.9%.
Exports to EU countries fell 0.5% year over year, while shipments to third countries grew 9.8%.
For the first seven months of the year, Germany's foreign trade surplus declined to €131.1 billion from €138.8 billion in the year-ago period.
Germany's current account surplus rose to €22.1 billion in July from €20.9 billion in the prior month.
