Germany's trade surplus hit an unexpected record €14.8 billion in June as imports fell more sharply than exports.
The country's Federal Statistics Office said exports fell a seasonally adjusted 0.4 per cent month-on-month to €64.4 billion from May's record €64.6 billion. Imports declined 5.5 per cent to €49.6 billion.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the adjusted trade balance would widen to €13 billion from €12.2 billion in May.
The better-than-expected result lent support to those forecasting slight growth in the second quarter, although the trade balance on average in the second quarter was 3.3 per cent below the level of the first quarter.
On an unadjusted basis, Germany's trade surplus widened in June to a record €16.8 billion from €12.1 billion in May. Exports were up 9.8 per cent year-on-year; imports rose 8.1 per cent.