German Exports Continue to Boom

German exports, buoyed by an upsurge in the world economy, continued with strong growth trends in May. The Federal Statistics Office said Thursday that German companies exported goods worth €60.8 billion ($75.27 billion) in May, an increase of 3.9 percent from the previous month and up by 11.8 percent as compared to the same period last year At the same time imports in May were worth €46.7 billion, up by 3.4 percent as compared to April 2004 and 6.1 percent more than for the same period last year. The robust figures meant a plus of €14.2 billion in Germany's trade balance. "Overall those are positive figures and it shows that, much like it's been so far, exports are providing the impetus for German growth," Klaus Schrüfer from the SEB bank said. "Naturally, that also means risks for growth, when the impetus from outside becomes weaker," he added.