Germany imported 2.9 billion euros worth of goods from Russia in July as higher energy prices hampered German efforts to curtail trade with Russia, Reuters reports.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the value of German imports from Russia rose 10.2 percent compared to July 2021.

The agency attributed the surge mainly to higher prices, especially in the energy sector, as lower supplies of Russian gas lead to higher energy bills for households and businesses in Europe's largest economy.

Germany imported 1.4 billion euros worth of crude oil and natural gas from Russia in July, up 1.6 percent from the previous year, the agency said.

Imports of Russian coke and oil products were estimated at €0.5 billion, up 72.5%, and imports of Russian coal more than doubled to €0.3 billion.

The data showed that while the value of imports from Russia rose, Germany was able to reduce total imports of goods from that country by 45.8 percent in July.

Meanwhile, German exports to Russia fell 56.8 percent in value terms, as Germany expanded its export business with the U.S. and neighboring countries France and the Netherlands.