German industrial production falls 0.7pc in March, trade surplus narrows

8th May 2026 07:42

(Sharecast News) - German industry continued to struggle at the end of the first quarter, according to fresh data from the Federal Statistical Office, as higher costs and weak global demand again weighed on output.

Industrial production fell 0.7% month‑on‑month in March, with February's reading also revised lower, leaving overall output more than 1% weaker in the first quarter than in the final three months of 2025.

The decline was driven largely by a drop in manufacturing activity, offset only partially by a modest rebound in the construction sector.

Export growth also slowed sharply, easing to 0.5% on the month from 4.7% in February, while imports jumped more than 5%. As a result, Germany's trade surplus narrowed to its lowest level since November.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com