Japan Posts Trade Surplus of 1.44 Billion Dollars in January

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Japan Posts Trade Surplus of 1.44 Billion Dollars in January

MON, FEB 25, 2002

Japan posted a customs-cleared trade surplus of 188.1 billion yen (1.44 billion dollars) in January, turning around from a deficit of 95.7 billion yen (730.5 million dollars) a year earlier, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

It was the first time in 19 months that Japan's trade balance improved from the level a year earlier.

Exports decreased 1.8 percent to 3,559.0 billion yen (27.17 billion dollars), while imports fell 9.4 percent to 3,370.9 billion yen (25.73 billion dollars), the ministry said in a preliminary report.

Exports of semiconductors and other electronics components were down 25.5 percent and those of optical equipment dropped 28.5 percent.

Automobile exports increased 24.8 percent and steel exports rose 26.9 percent.

Imports of semiconductors and other electronics components fell 29.4 percent and those of crude oil declined 23.0 percent.

Japan's politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States rose 14.9 percent to 524.8 billion yen (4.01 billion dollars), up for the first time in five months, with exports and imports down 3.7 percent and 16.3 percent respectively.

The surplus with the 15-member European Union (EU) fell 55.5 percent to 62.2 billion yen (474.8 million dollars), down for 17 months in a row.

With other Asian countries and regions, Japan registered a deficit of 45.5 billion yen (347.3 million dollars), an improvement from a 183.9 billion yen (1.41 billion dollars) deficit a year earlier.

Exports rose 2.0 percent to 1,415.1 billion yen (10.80 billion dollars), up for the first time in 10 months, while imports fell 7.0 percent to 1,460.7 billion yen (11.15 billion dollars) for the sixth consecutive month of fall.

The trade data are measured on a customs-cleared basis before adjustment for seasonal factors.

The yen averaged 131.00 to the U.S. dollar in January, down 12.1 percent from 115.19 a year earlier.

Editor:Zhong Source:Xinhua

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