German industry is struggling to recover as the Middle East war heightens uncertainty and raises costs, data reported by AFP suggests, hitting Europe’s top economy amid a prolonged slump.

Industrial production fell 0.7 per cent in March versus February, federal statistics office Destatis said, while Germany’s monthly trade surplus of 14.3 billion euros ($16.8bn) was at its lowest since May 2023, with imports rising much faster than exports.

Taken together the data suggested that Germany’s economy was growing more slowly than the previously reported rate of 0.3pc in the first quarter, ING bank analyst Carsten Brzeski said.

Opinion

Editorial

Reflection time
Updated 25 Jun, 2026

Reflection time

Israel is the biggest source of instability in the Middle East, and it is high time the US ended its blind support to Tel Aviv, if it genuinely wants peace in the region.
Raised temperatures
25 Jun, 2026

Raised temperatures

THE fraught situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir requires immense patience and cool heads. Temperatures are raised on...
Debatable remedy
25 Jun, 2026

Debatable remedy

THE Pakistan Psychiatric Society’s challenge to the Federal Shariat Court’s ruling on attempted suicide deserves...
Pezeshkian’s visit
Updated 24 Jun, 2026

Pezeshkian’s visit

Perhaps a good place to start would be the resumption of work on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
Telecom bill
24 Jun, 2026

Telecom bill

THERE is now no question about it: the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill of 2026 is a...
Updating Islamabad
24 Jun, 2026

Updating Islamabad

ISLAMABAD is growing rapidly. Its planning, however, remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Despite years of ...