TOKYO: Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 152.513 billion yen in November, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. That was shy of expectations for a surplus of 227.4 billion yen following the 496.2 billion yen surplus in October. Exports were down 0.4% on year to 5.956 trillion yen, beating expectations for a decline of 2.3% following the 10.3% fall in the previous month.
Exports to all of Asia gained 3.4% on year to 3.235 trillion yen, while exports to China alone climbed 4.4% to 1.103 trillion yen. Exports to the US skidded an annual 1.8% to 1.211 trillion yen, while exports to the EU slid 2.2% to 633.258 billion yen.
Imports slipped an annual 8.8% to 5.804 trillion yen versus expectations for a decline of 12.1% following the 16.5% tumble a month earlier. Imports from the rest of Asia dropped 7.7% on year to 2.883 trillion yen, while imports from China alone slid 9.9% to 1.4876 trillion yen. Imports from the US fell 5.1% to 630.121 billion yen, while imports from the EU dropped 13.3% to 716.954 billion yen. The adjusted trade surplus was 536.1 billion yen, missing expectations for 590.5 billion yen and up from 474.3 billion yen in October.
