Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 53.44 billion yen in April, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.
The headline figure beat expectations for a deficit of 386.8 billion yen following the upwardly revised 50 billion yen surplus in March (originally 3.3 billion).
Exports climbed 8.0 percent on year – also topping forecasts for an increase of 6.0 percent following the 8.5 percent jump in the previous month.
Exports to all of Asia added 6.0 percent on year to 3.458 trillion yen, while exports to China alone gained an annual 2.4 percent to 1.121 trillion yen.
Exports to the United States climbed 21.4 percent on year to 1.362 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union gained an annual 0.8 percent to 639.253 billion yen.
Imports dropped an annual 4.2 percent versus expectations for a fall of 1.1 percent after tumbling 14.5 percent a month earlier.
Imports from all of Asia added 2.0 percent on year to 3.174 trillion yen, while imports from China alone advanced an annual 2.5 percent to 1.597 trillion yen.
Imports from the United States surged 23.9 percent on year to 714.133 billion yen, while imports from the European Union added an annual 1.2 percent to 674.527 billion yen.
The adjusted trade balance showed a deficit of 53.4 billion yen – which beat expectations for a shortfall of 351.1 billion yen following the 227.4 billion yen surplus in March.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com