GERMANY's export trade fell by 3.6 per cent in October compared to the previous month, which was far worse than the 1 per cent decline earlier predicted by the markets.
Imports also fell by 1 per cent compared to September.
A report by London's Containerisation International said the result confirmed that "Europe's biggest economy - until now a lone shining beacon in the EU - is now being impacted by the region's debt crisis and falling global demand."
Germany's trade surplus has declined from EUR17.3 billion (US$23 billion) to EUR15.5 billion as a result of its plummeting export trade, the report added.