According to the German Agriculture Ministry both tonage and average value rose for most product groups.

Exports to countries within the EU came to €11.7 billion, about three quarter of the total export amount.

Compared to the previous quarter this was a rise of nine per cent.

However the ministry bsaid thqat the long term gains came with exports to third countries

The growth rate in the third country exports was 5.3 per cent reaching € 3.8 billion

However, exports toi two key countries outsie the EU fell – Russia and Switzerland where the value of food exports fell by 7.4 per cent, down to €417 million.

Exports to the United States fell by slightly by 0.9 per cent to €396 million. Seven other countries saw exports go over €100 million Saudi Arabia (€262 million), China (€197 million), Norway (€139 million), Iran (€112 million), Turkey (€112 million) Ukraine (€109 million) and Japan (€109 million)

Agricultural imports were € 16.8 billion - about the level of the previous quarter.