Germany reported soaring trade figures today, suggesting that second-quarter growth in Europe's powerhouse economy could be the strongest since reunification 20 years ago.
Germany, the world's second-biggest exporter after China, said that provisional figures exports rocketing 28.5% to €86.5 billion in June, the highest level since October 2008.
Imports soared 31.7% to hit a new record of €72.4 billion, meanwhile, an all-time peak since statistics were first compiled in 1950, the Destatis statistics office added.
Analysts said the figures improved chances of the German economy having grown more rapidly in the second quarter than previously assumed. The overall German trade surplus surged by 44% from May to €14.1 billion, in line with average forecasts.
For the first half of 2010, the trade surplus recorded by Europe's biggest economy gained 26% from the same time a year earlier to €74.6 billion.
The first six months of 2009 were marked by the country's worst post-war recession, however. Since then, the value of goods sold has picked up markedly, in particular to Asia which has ordered impressive amounts of German machine tools, cars and chemicals.
Germany's current account of the balance of payments, a broader measure of all current payments into and out of the country, surged in June to €12.9 billion, from €1.8 billion the previous month, provisional figures from the central bank showed.
Berlin has been criticised by France and some others in Europe for not boosting consumption and relying unduly on exports.
