BERLIN, June 8 (Xinhua) -- German exports and production fell in April, figures by the Federal Statistical Office showed on Friday.
In April, German exports amounted to 110.3 billion euros (130.8 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 0.3-percent decline compared to the previous month on seasonally-adjusted basis. Imports rose by 2.2 percent to 89.9 billion euros and hence provided further tentative evidence of a longer-term shift in Germany towards lower trade surpluses.
Berlin has repeatedly been chastised by U.S. President Donald Trump as well as the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) for allegedly contributing to global imbalances with its export-driven growth model.
The IMF believes that permanent current account surpluses -- the balance of a country's international trade and investment inflows and outflows -- above 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), endanger economic stability because they imply corresponding deficits and a build-up of international liabilities in other countries.
Compared to the same month last year, German exports in April this year still rose faster than imports, with respective increases of 9.3 and 8.2 percent. The overall monthly trade surplus was measured at 20.4 billion euros, up slightly from 17.8 billion euros in April 2017.
While the monthly jump in imports was widely seen as highlighting strong domestic demand, industrial, construction, and energy production still declined by 1.0 percent in April compared to March. Having witnessed a 1.7-percent increase in the previous month, most economists expected growth of at least 0.3 percent in April as well.
"Following a moderate first quarter of the year, production at the start of the second quarter was weak," a statement commenting on the findings by the ministry for the economy read.
The ministry noted that while outstanding orders remained at a "very high" level, new customer orders had already declined for the fourth month in a row in April as showcased by recent data.
"As a consequence, economic momentum in the industrial sector is probably going to weaken slightly in the coming months," the ministry warned.
