— Japan Dec Trade Surplus +34.1% Y/Y Vs Nov -55.9%
— Japan Dec Trade Surplus MNI Median Forecast: Y450 Bln, -17.1% Y/Y
— Japan Trade Surplus Posts 1st Y/Y Rise In 2 Months
— Japan Dec Exports +13.0% Y/Y, Up 13 Months In Row
— Japan Dec Imports +10.6% Y/Y, Up 12 Months In Row
— Japan Dec Exports To US +16.5% Y/Y, Up 12 Months In Row
— Japan Dec Exports To EU +9.7% Y/Y, Up 2 Months In Row
— Japan Dec Exports To Asia +14.8% Y/Y, Up 14 Months In Row
— Japan Dec Exports To China +20.1% Y/Y, Up 14 Months In Row
— Japan 2010 Trade Surplus Y6.77 Trillion, +153.4% Y/Y, 2nd Rise In Row
— Japan 2010 Trade Surplus Highest Since Y10.795 Trillion in 2007
TOKYO (MNI) – Japan’s trade surplus surged 34.1% in December from a
year earlier to Y727.7 billion, posting the first year-on-year rise in
two months led by double-digit percentage growth in automobile and metal
working machinery exports, Ministry of Finance data released on Thursday
showed.
The figures came in much stronger than the median forecast by
economists in a Market News International survey — a drop of 17.1% y/y
to a surplus of only Y450 billion.
December’s surplus followed a downwardly revised surplus of Y161.1
billion in November (preliminary +Y162.8 billion), which was down by a
revised 55.9% from a year before. In October, the trade surplus rose
2.3%.
The pace of export growth on a year-on-year basis picked up for the
second consecutive month last month as shipments to China hit a record
high of Y1.285 trillion.
Japanese exports rose 13.0% in December from a year earlier to
Y6.11 trillion, the 13th straight year-on-year gain. The pace of export
growth accelerated from a revised +9.1% in November but was below the
recent peak of +45.3% marked in February 2010.
Imports gained 10.6% to Y5.39 trillion in December, posting the
12th consecutive y/y rise on purchases of iron ore and coal. The pace of
growth decelerated from +14.2% in November.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **
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