Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 823.474 billion yen in April, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.
That topped forecasts for a surplus of 521.4 billion yen following the 754.2 billion yen surplus in March.
Exports were down 10.1 percent on year, missing forecasts for a fall of 9.9 percent following the 6.8 percent drop in the previous month.
Exports to all of Asia fell 11.1 percent on year to 3,073.092 billion yen, while exports to China alone fell 7.6 percent to 1,035.241 billion yen.
Exports to the United States slipped an annual 11.8 percent to 1,200.508 billion yen, while exports to the European Union jumped 9.9 percent to 702.516 billion yen.
Imports tumbled an annual 23.3 percent versus expectations for a decline of 19.3 percent after skidding 14.9 percent a month earlier.
Imports from the rest of Asia fell 19.2 percent on year to 2,566.514 billion yen, while imports from just China skidded 16.8 percent to 1,329.882 billion yen.
Imports from the United States skidded an annual 18.1 percent to 585.686 billion yen, while imports from the European Union fell an annual 8.4 percent to 617.454 billion yen.
The adjusted trade surplus was 426.6 billion yen – beating expectations for 325.8 billion yen and up from the upwardly revised 295.3 billion yen in March (originally 276.5 billion yen).
by RTT Staff Writer
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