German exports fall unexpectedly in August

By Maria Martinez

Oct 8 (Reuters) - German exports unexpectedly in August due to sharp decline in exports to the United States.

Exports fell by 0.8% compared with the previous month, data from the federal statistics office showed on Thursday.

The result compared with a forecast 0.6% increase in a Reuters poll.

Imports were up 0.9% on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis compared with July.

As a result, the trade surplus narrowed to €19.5 billion ($21.82 billion) in August from €21.6 billion in July.

Exports to EU countries dropped by 0.6% on the month, while exports to countries outside the EU decreased by 1.1%.

Exports to the United States fell by 6.3% on July, while exports to the United Kingdom increased by 16.7%.

Meanwhile, exports to China rose by 4.7% but imports increased by 11.0%.

($1 = 0.8935 euros)

(Reporting by Basile Day in Gdansk and Maria Martinez in Berlin, Editing by Friederike Heine)