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German exports rise 1.4 per cent in January with most growth coming outside the EU

BERLIN – Official figures show that German exports began the year strongly with a 1.4 per cent rise in January over the previous month.

Exports rose to €91.9 billion ($120.3 billion) in January from €90.6 billion in December 2012, according to figures Monday from the Federal Statistical Office, which adjusts values for calendar and seasonal effects.

With imports up 3.3 per cent to €76.2 billion, Germany had a trade surplus of €15.7 billion in January.

Compared to January 2012, exports were up 3.1 per cent in unadjusted terms.

Despite the ongoing financial crisis, exports to the European Union rose 2.1 per cent over the year, while exports to the other 16 countries that use the euro grew 0.4 per cent.

Those increases were dwarfed by the 4.5 per cent rise in exports to countries outside the 27-country EU.