German exports to China rose by seven percent last year, official statistics showed on Monday, bucking the trend in a dismal year for Europe's top economy, where overall exports slumped by 18 percent Goods "made in Germany" exported to China - mainly machine tools, vehicles and spare parts - were valued at 36.5 billion euros (49.3 billion dollars) in 2009, the national statistics office said.
The data came as a poll showed that an increasing number of German firms were intending to make investments abroad, especially in China. More than a third (37 percent) of companies surveyed by the German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) said they had plans to invest in China, up from 32 percent in 2009.
The willingness of German firms to invest abroad is growing as well, the survey showed, with 44 percent of the 9,000 companies asked saying they intend to make investments in foreign countries, up from 40 percent last year. "The economic climate is improving more and more. The investment plans of German companies shows that," said the president of the DIHK, Hans Heinrich Driftmann.