Germany's trade surplus widened in June as exports jumped but a rise in imports did not signal a substantial strengthening of domestic demand.
The Federal Statistics Office data today showed exports lifting the trade surplus in Europe's largest economy to €10.9 billion in June from €9.7 billion in May.
The June rise was above the consensus expectation for a €9.9 billion trade surplus in a poll of analysts.
But Mr Stefan Bielmeier, an economist at Deutsche Bank, said the details were less rosy than the headline figure suggested.
"The picture is that imports are weak, certainly weaker than exports, which means that domestic demand is currently very weak while foreign demand is quite stable," he said.
The Office said imports rose to €45.8 billion from a revised €40.5 billion in May and were down 0.3 per cent on the year.
Exports rose to €56.7 billion in June from €50.2 billion in May and were up 6.0 per cent on the year.