P.M. BRIEFING : Japan Surplus Up Over Year Ago
TOKYO — Japan’s trade surplus rose in January above year-earlier levels for the first time in five months, the Finance Ministry said today.
Officials said the growth was mainly because the January, 1990, surplus was so small.
The surplus of $987 million was more than triple the January, 1990, figure of $319 million but well below the $5.39-billion surplus in December, the ministry said.
A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that overall, Japan’s “surplus will continue to stay in a downward trend.”
In trade with the United States, its biggest trading partner, Japan showed a $2.41-billion surplus in January, up 9.9% from $2.20 billion a year earlier.
Globally, imports increased 13.3% from January, 1990, to $20.80 billion, while exports climbed 16.7% to $21.78 billion.
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