Exports were up a seasonally adjusted 0.9{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} over the month, following a 1.5{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} increase in February.  German firms had the most success in markets outside the European Union, where they recorded growth of 6.1{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} compared with the year before.  The seasonally-adjusted trade surplus remained flat at 13.7bn euros from a revised 13.7bn in February.

While exports to countries outside of the EU grew, exports to countries in the crisis-hit eurozone shrank by 3.6{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}.  Imports were up 1.2{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed.

Credit: BBC/Reuters/ADP