German exports fall 0.8% in August, defying expectations, as shipments to the US plunge 6.3%
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Germany's Federal Statistical Office reported on October 8 that German exports in August fell 0.8% from the previous month, contrary to a Reuters survey that had forecast a 0.6% increase. The decline was driven mainly by exports to the United States, which plunged 6.3% from July. Exports to the European Union fell 0.6%, while exports to countries outside the EU slipped 1.1%. Exports to the United Kingdom surged 16.7%, and exports to China edged up 4.7%. However, imports of goods from China jumped 11.0%. Overall imports rose 0.9% from July after seasonal and calendar adjustments. As a result, Germany's trade surplus narrowed to 19.5 billion euros, or about 21.8 billion dollars, in August, down from 21.6 billion euros in July. The figures reflect that growth momentum in Germany's economy, the largest in the eurozone, is beginning to fade after a strong expansion in the first half of the year, and signal that the economy is likely to slow in the third quarter of 2026.