germanys trade surplus fell in december compared with the previous month as both exports and imports declined sharply reflecting continued weakness in global demand and lower energy prices the countrys adjusted trade surplusthe balance of exports and imports of goodsfell to 100 billion euros 1099 billion in december from eur109 billion in november data from the countrys statistics office destatis showed wednesday economists polled by the wall street journal expected a trade surplus of eur780 billion in december exports fell 63 on month to eur1274 billion in a further sign of lower global demand for german manufacturing goods economists expected exports to decline by 35 imports decreased 61 on month to eur1174 billion as falling energy prices have pushed down the cost of energy imports germanys trade surplus shrunk markedly in 2022 as a sharp rise in energy prices increased the overall imports bill in 2022 as a whole trade surplus stood at eur760 billion its fifth consecutive yearly decline exports were up by 143 from the previous year while imports rose by 243 the trade surplus recovered somewhat at the end of the year amid lower energy prices but trade still faces headwinds ahead as the global economy cools