BERLIN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany's exports fell by 2 percent in February month-on-month to 132.9 billion euros (143.5 billion U.S. dollars), according to figures published by the Federal Statistical Office on Monday.
"Despite positive signals from current early indicators, German foreign trade remains under pressure," said Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, in a statement released on the same day.
He added that declining competitiveness, increased trade barriers and protectionism, and local certification requirements continued to burden the country's exporters and foreign traders.
Germany's total imports amounted to 111.5 billion euros in February, with most continuing to come from China, jumping by 16 percent to 12.1 billion euros. Meanwhile, according to the figures, the United States was the largest customer country for German products at 13.8 billion euros.
Klaus Wohlrabe, an expert at the ifo Institute for Economic Research, forecasts that world trade will improve in the coming months and this progressive trend will likely benefit Germany's exports. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar)
