By Rachel More
(Reuters) – German exports rebounded in March by 0.9% on the previous month, increasing more than forecast, the federal statistics office reported on Tuesday.
Analysts’ polled by Reuters had expected exports to increase by 0.4%.
The March rise followed a revised 1.6% decline in exports in February, which had prompted Germany’s BGA trade association to warn that falling competitiveness and rising protectionism were taking their toll on the country’s export-focused economy.
In March, Europe’s largest economy saw increases in exports to EU member states and third countries, by 0.5% and 1.3% respectively, according to the data.
Imports were up 0.3% on the month, the statistics office said, following a revised 3.0% rise in February.
The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 22.3 billion euros in March, compared with a forecast 22.2 billion euros and 21.4 billion the previous month.
The statistics office publishes more detailed economic data on its website.
The office also reported a surprise decline in industrial orders in March, which fell by 0.4% on the previous month.
(Reporting by Amir Orusov, Anastasiia Kozlova and Rachel More; Editing by Miranda Murray and Andrew Heavens)
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