Hopes are growing in Berlin that the German economy is set to emerge from its deep recession as industrial production stabilises and the country’s export engine begins to refire.

Figures on Thursday showed exports rose 0.3 per cent in May compared with the previous month. A 2.1 per cent contraction in imports caused Germany’s trade surplus to widen to €10.3bn ($14.4bn, £8.8bn), its highest level since December.