Wiesbaden, Germany - German exports recorded a surprise increase in September despite the global economic slowdown, official figures showed Friday.

The Federal Statistics Office said exports rose 6.9 per cent to 87.1 billion euros (112 billion dollars) in September compared to the corresponding month of 2007.

Imports climbed 14.1 per cent in the same period to 72.2 billion euros, to give the world's biggest exporter a trade surplus of 15 billion euros, the figures showed.

The current account balance, which takes into account transfers and services as well as exports and imports, also recorded a surplus of 15 billion euros.

Exports of German goods to countries in the European Union increased 6.2 per cent to 55.5 billion euros, while sales to nations outside the EU were up 8.2 per cent to 31.6 billion euros.

Compared to August, exports were up 11.4 billion euros, while imports also rose, to 7.1 billion euros.

In the first nine months of year exports totalled 761 billion euros compared to imports of 618.1 billion euros.

During this period Germany sold goods worth 487.5 billion euros to the EU and imported products from the EU totalling 400.4 billion euros. (dpa)