Japan logs biggest trade deficit in nearly 5 years

NHK -- Feb 21

Japan recorded its biggest trade deficit in almost five years in January, extending its run of red ink to a fourth month as exports to China tumbled.

Figures released by Japan's Finance Ministry on Wednesday show the deficit for the month was 1.4 trillion yen, about 12.7 billion dollars.

Exports to all markets were down 8.4 percent from a year earlier in yen terms, largely due to a decline in sales of ships and semiconductor-making machines.

Imports declined by 0.6 percent, the result of lower crude oil prices.

Exports to China fell by 17.4 percent. Ministry officials say that could be due to China's slowing economy. They say the Lunar New Year holidays may also have dented demand.

On the other hand, Japan's surplus with the US grew for the first time in seven months, climbing 5.1 percent from a year earlier. US-bound auto exports rose by 13 percent.

Feb 21 (ANNnewsCH) - 輸出が減少した影響で、4年10カ月ぶりの大幅な赤字となりました。 財務省が発表した今年1月の貿易収支は輸入額が6兆9895億円とおおむね横ばいで推移する一方で、輸出額は2年ぶりの低さとなる5兆5742億円に減少し、差し引きで1兆4152億円の赤字になりました。