FRANKFURT (AP) -- The German Federal Statistical Office says the country's three main export sectors -- machinery, cars and chemicals -- fell in 2009, when the country struggled to emerge from recession.
The Wiesbaden-based office says 2009 machinery exports were down 24 percent on 2008 levels to euro122 billion, ($165 billion), auto industry exports were 29 percent lower to euro121 billion, while chemical industry exports were 20 percent lower to euro74 billion.
Machinery remains the country's most important export in 2009, making up 15.1 percent of total volume. Second most important is automobiles and parts with 14.9 percent, then chemicals with 9.1 percent. The three sectors comprise nearly 40 percent of total exports, the office said Tuesday.
In 2008, automobile exports were ahead of machinery, with chemicals in third place.
