TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s exports rose 17.5% in December from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.
The reading compared with a 16.0% gain expected by economists in a Reuters poll and followed a 20.5% rise in the previous month.
Imports increased 41.1% in the year to December, versus the median estimate for a 42.8% rise. They climbed 43.8% in the previous month.
The trade balance came to a deficit of 582.4 billion yen ($5.09 billion), against the median estimate for a 784.1 billion yen deficit.
To view full tables, go to the MOF website at: http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm
($1 = 114.3200 yen)
(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)
