Chinese exports narrowly edged ahead of those from Germany in the first six months of the year, new figures showed yesterday, in a fresh sign that Germany's status as the world's leading exporter is at risk.
China exported goods worth $521.7bn in the first six months of this year, while Germany's total was $521.6bn, the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation reported.
Such export figures are closely followed in Germany, Europe's largest economy, which has national elections next month. Sales of its industrial products have largely powered the economic growth in recent years, and throughout the economic crisis the government of Angela Merkel, chancellor, has defended strongly the country's export-driven economic model.