By Michael Nienaber and Rene Wagner
BERLIN (Reuters) - German exports plunged unexpectedly in February, posting their biggest monthly drop in 2-1/2 years and narrowing the trade surplus, data showed on Monday, in a further sign that growth in Europe's biggest economy could have reached its peak.
Seasonally adjusted exports fell by 3.2 percent on the month, the steepest decline since August 2015, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed. Imports dropped by 1.3 percent.
A Reuters poll had pointed to exports edging up by 0.2 percent on the month and imports rising by 0.3 percent.
"As it looks, we have surpassed the top of the economic upswing," HSBC Trinkhaus analyst Lothar Hessler said, adding that the stronger euro was probably to blame for the weak export figures.
"The German economy will continue to grow, but with less momentum," Hessler said.
The seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to 19.2 billion euros ($23.6 billion) from 21.5 billion euros in January, the lowest since January 2017. The Reuters consensus forecast was for 21.4 billion euros.
Germany's wider current account surplus, which measures the flow of goods, services and investments, edged up to 20.7 billion euros from 20.3 billion euros in January, unadjusted data showed.
Andreas Scheuerle from DekaBank said the data pointed to an disappointing first quarter.
"It's hard to explain the reasons for this weak start to the year because the good economic conditions have not changed over the past three months," Scheuerle said, adding that record employment and rising wages were a good omen for domestic demand.
Scheuerle added that protectionist threats from U.S. President Donald Trump could hardly be the main reason for the February decline in German exports.
Still, the prospect of Germany getting caught in the cross-fire of a trade war between the United States and China is worrying German businesses.
The DIHK Chambers of Commerce and Industry said last week an escalation of the dispute over import duties could harm the global economy and weaken demand for German goods and services.
Official data last week showed German industrial output fell by the most in more than two years in February. The Economy Ministry said industry was losing momentum.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to visit U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday.
Merkel's trip, three days after French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the Washington, comes just before the expiry of an exemption for the European Union from U.S. import duties on steel and aluminium.
The visits give the EU leaders an opportunity to lobby for the bloc to be exempted permanently from the tariffs which are suspended for the EU until May 1.
($1 = 0.8147 euros)
(Additional reporting by Paul Carrel; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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