Tokyo, October 22 (QNA) - Japan's exports rose 4.2% year-on-year in September to 9.41 trillion yen, marking their first increase in five months, supported by a widening trade surplus with other Asian economies, including China.

In contrast, imports grew 3.3% to 9.65 trillion yen, recording their first increase in three months. Despite the rebound in trade, Japan posted a deficit of 234.6 billion yen, its third consecutive monthly shortfall.
According to data released by the Ministry of Finance and cited by Kyodo News Agency, Japan's global trade deficit narrowed 61.2% in the first six months of the current fiscal year to 1.22 trillion yen. During the same period, exports rose 0.2% to 53.65 trillion yen, while imports fell 3.2% to 54.88 trillion yen.

Japan's trade surplus with Asia, including China, surged 63.9% to 2.52 trillion yen, marking the fifth consecutive first-half surplus. Conversely, the country recorded a trade deficit of 1.41 trillion yen with the European Union, extending its deficit streak to 27 months.

Exports to the United States declined 10.2% year-on-year to 9.71 trillion yen (about $64 billion) in the first half of fiscal 2025 -- the first drop since the second half of fiscal 2020. During the same period, Japan's trade surplus with the United States shrank 22.6% to 3.32 trillion yen, its first decline in a year, as automobile exports fell 22.7% in value. Imports from the United States fell 2.0% to 6.39 trillion yen, marking the second consecutive half-year decline. (QNA)