German exports fell unexpectedly in May, posting their steepest monthly drop in nine months, while imports rose less than expected, data showed today.
It is a further sign that Europe's biggest economy lost growth momentum in the second quarter.
Seasonally adjusted exports were down 1.8% on the month, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed.
This was the biggest monthly fall since August 2015 and below the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll for a 0.25% rise.
Seasonally adjusted imports inched up 0.1% on the month, the data showed, also disappointing market expectations for an increase of 0.4%.
The plunge in exports narrowed the seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €22.2 billion from a revised €24.1 billion in April, which was the highest monthly value so far.
