Slumping German exports reinforce fears of weak Q2

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Aug 10 (AFP): German exports saw a massive slump in June compared to a year ago, official data showed Friday, rounding off a run of weak data pointing to a shaky second quarter.

At 106.1 billion euros ($118.8 billion), the country sold 8.0 per cent less abroad than in June 2018, federal statistics authority Destatis said.

"Today's trade data marks the end of a disappointing second quarter," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski.

"A small contraction (in GDP) has just become more likely."

In the near term, the fall was less dramatic, coming in just 0.1 per cent lower than in May, adjusting for seasonal and calendar effects.

With imports growing slightly month-on-month, to 89.3 billion euros, Germany's politically divisive trade surplus shrank to 18.1 billion, after 18.7 in May.

In a geographic breakdown, exports to countries outside Germany's EU neighbourhood fell back most dramatically compared with last June, shedding 10.7 per cent.

The fall was less dramatic for exports to countries that share the euro single currency, at 5.6 per cent.

Imports from non-EU countries also fell sharply, losing 8.9 per cent, more than double the fall for EU goods.