German exports up 2.3 percent in January

March 9, 2012

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BERLIN—German exports increased by 2.3 percent in January from the previous month -- returning to growth after a sharp decline at the end of last year.

The Federal Statistical Office said Friday that Germany, Europe's biggest economy, exported goods and services worth euro85.9 billion ($113.4 billion) in January. The month-on-month gain followed a 4.4 percent drop in December.

Imports in January were up 2.4 percent at euro72.8 billion following a 3.9 percent fall in December.

The German economy shrank slightly in last year's fourth quarter but economists expect that it will avoid a second consecutive quarter of contraction that would put it into recession.

Germany's foreign trade surplus in January was euro13.1 billion, up slightly from euro12.9 billion in December.