German exports up slightly in November

Germany's exports edged higher in November on stronger demand for goods and services from Europe's biggest economy both inside and outside the region, official data showed on Friday.

German exports inched up by a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent to 99.3 billion euros ($108 billion) in November, the federal statistics office calculated.

Imports grew more strongly, rising by 1.6 percent to 79.6 billion euros, meaning that the trade surplus -- the balance between exports and imports -- fell to 19.7 billion euros in November from 20.5 billion euros in October, the statisticians said.

In unadjusted terms, exports grew by 7.7 percent year-on-year, while imports were up 5.4 percent, meaning the unadjusted trade surplus amounted to 20.6 billion euros, an increase over the same month a year earlier, Destatis said.

On a year-on-year basis, exports to the EU increased by 9.5 percent, with exports to the eurozone up 8.8 percent, while exports to countries outside the EU increased by 5.1 percent, the statistics office said.

Industrial production decreased slightly in November, weighed down by falling activity in the manufacturing sector, the economy ministry said.

The ministry calculated that factory output contracted by 0.3 percent in November compared with a month earlier, corrected for seasonal factors.

In October, output had increased by 0.5 percent.

Manufacturing output was down by 0.8 percent month-on-month, while construction output increased by 1.6 percent and energy output was up 2.5 percent, the ministry said.