German exports rose by 14.7 percent in the first half of 2011 compared to the same time period the previous year, driven in part by a healthy increase in the value of goods shipped outside the European Union, the Federal Statistical Office announced on Thursday . January-June 2011 exports came in at euro525.6 billion ($721.60 billion), up from euro458.3 billion in the first six months of 2010. When adjusted for prices, the rise was 10.1 percent. Second-quarter exports rose an unadjusted 10.8 percent to euro264.7 billion compared to euro238.8 billion in the same quarter last year. Germany, Europe\'\'s largest economy, is the world\'\'s second largest exporter behind China.