By Maria Martinez

German exports continued their recovery in April despite the continuation of lockdown restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic.

The country's exports rose 0.3% from March in adjusted terms, statistics office Destatis said Wednesday. Economists had forecast a 0.4% increase in adjusted terms, according to a poll by The Wall Street Journal.

Imports decreased 1.7% on month, Destatis said. The figures account for seasonal swings and calendar effects.

In April 2021 exports were 0.5% lower and imports 5.5% higher than in February 2020, the month before restrictions were imposed in Germany because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Germany's trade surplus--the balance of exports and imports of goods--totaled 15.9 billion euros ($19.4 billion) in calendar and seasonally adjusted terms in April, Destatis said. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast the trade surplus at EUR16.0 billion.

According to provisional results from central bank Deutsche Bundesbank, the current account of the balance of payments showed a EUR21.3 billion surplus in April, taking into account the balances of trade in goods including supplementary trade items, services, primary income, and secondary income.

Write to Maria Martinez at maria.martinez@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-09-21 0229ET