China has surpassed Germany as the world's leading exporter, trade figures released today by the German national statistics office showed.
In the 11 months from January to November, Chinese exports were worth a total of $1.07 trillion, while German data showed that exports from Europe's biggest economy amounted to €734.6 billion, or $1.05 trillion.
In November, the German trade surplus climbed to €17.2 billion, according to seasonally corrected figures from the Destatis service, from €13.6 billion in October amid a pick up in global trade.
Economists said that German product specialisation with a high share of capital goods and high presence in Asian markets, make Germany one of the main beneficiaries of an investment-led global recovery.
German exports to China had increased by almost 12% from November 2008.
Germany is slowly recovering from its worst recession since World War II, after its economy contracted by around 5% in 2009.
Analysts had expected a much smaller November trade surplus of around €11 billion, meanwhile, and the figures will be welcomed following the release of disappointing retail sales data yesterday.
German industrial output inches up
Industrial production in European powerhouse Germany inched up in November as a recovery gathered pace, government data showed today, partly reversing a dip the previous month.
Output rose by 0.7% from October, preliminary figures adjusted for seasonal effects and inflation from the economy ministry showed, following a fall of 1.7% the month earlier.
Economists had forecast on average for November a slightly stronger increase of 1%, however.
Government figures published yesterday showed industrial orders edging up by 0.2%, significantly weaker than the 1.4% rise expected by economists.
Germany, which accounts for a third of euro zone output, suffered last year it worst recession since World War II as the global downturn hit demand for its exports, but recent data have shown it is on the road to recovery.
