WIESBADEN, Germany (AFP) - German exports were booming in the first nine months of the year and are heading for record levels despite the strong euro, data released by the federal statistics office showed.
The eurozone's biggest economy posted a trade surplus of 12.1 billion euros (15.5 billion dollars) in September, up slightly from a revised figure of 11 billion in August.
Analysts polled by the Swiss bank UBS had forecast an average surplus of 11.8 billion euros.
German exports rose 5.8 percent in September to 61.9 billion euros, while imports rose 13.1 percent to 49.8 billion, the office said.
Over the nine months from January to September, exports were up 10.2 percent on the corresponding period last year.
According to forecasts from the BGA federation of wholesalers and exporters, the German economy is heading for a record export year of 725 billion euros, rising to 776 billion next year.
Germany's current account, a broader measure of its external commercial relations, including trade in goods, services and certain financial transactions, showed a surplus of 5.1 billion euros, a sharp increase from August, when it stood at 1.2 billion.
Analysts had forecast however that Germany would post a current account surplus of 6.1 billion euros.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said last week that "judging by the fine state of exports" the new highs reached by the euro against the dollar did not seem to be having a negative impact.
11/10/2004 - 11:25 GMT - AFP