WEST GERMAN EXPORTS TO U.S. DROP SHARPLY
West German exports to the United
States fell below four billion marks worth in January for the
first time since mid-1984, provisional Bundesbank data showed.
    The figures showed exports were 3.85 billion marks in
January, sharply down from December's 4.40 billion and the
lowest since the 3.56 billion exported to the U.S. In July
1984. This compared with 4.86 billion marks in January 1986.
    Total West German exports to Western industrialised
countries also fell in January to 34.76 billion marks from
December's 36.45 billion, also posting the lowest monthly total
since July 1984.
    West German exports to the European Community were 21.60
billion marks in January, down from 22.14 billion in December
and 22.94 billion in January last year, the figures showed.
    Exports to developing nations and centrally-planned
economies also slackened.
    Separately, Commerzbank AG said in a report that the focus
of West German exports this year was likely to shift to Europe
because of an expected downturn in growth in the dollar area.
    This was one of the strengths of West German exports
compared with Japan, which depended in large part on the U.S.,
OPEC and developing country markets, it added.
 REUTER
