MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Germany top of goods exporter for sixth year running

Germany was the world's biggest goods exporter for a sixth straight year in 2008, staying just ahead of China by shifting nearly 1.5 trillion US dollars worth of merchandise, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Monday.

"Our estimate (of the amount of goods sold) for China is 1,428.5 billion, and for Germany, 1,463.2 billion," WTO chief economist Patrick Low told Reuters by telephone. During 2007, China sold goods worth 1,218.6 billion and Germany goods worth 1,323.8 billion, the WTO said. The gap between the two trading giants has narrowed sharply and many analysts expect China to come out on top this year. Meantime Germany reported that exports in December dropped 7.7% compared to the same month a year ago. The Central Statistics Office with headquarters in Wiesbaden said this follows a weak November when exports contracted 11.8% the biggest fall since October 1993. In December exports totalled 87 billion US dollars and imports 78 billion, down 3.3%.