PM BRIEFING : Japan’s Trade Surplus Widens
TOKYO — Japan’s trade surplus rose in January over a year ago as low oil prices continued to keep down import costs, the Finance Ministry reported today.
The surplus grew to $3.25 billion last month from $3.07 billion in January, 1988, but was well below the monthly record of $9.65 billion set in December.
January exports rose 11.5% from a year earlier to $19.32 billion and imports climbed 12.7% to $16.07 billion. The figures are compiled as the goods pass through customs.
Japan’s surplus with the United States, however, fell slightly over a year ago, to $2.974 billion from $2.976 billion. Exports to the U.S. market increased 11.1% to $6.50 billion, while imports from the United States surged 22.4% to $3.52 billion.
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