Japan Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in November

Japan trade balance shifted to a deficit of JPY 737.3 billion in November 2018 from a surplus of JPY 105.2 billion in the same month a year earlier and worse than market estimates of a gap of JPY 450 billion. Imports jumped 12.5% year-on-year to JPY 7.67 trillion. Exports edged up 0.1% to JPY 6.93 trillion. Considering the first eleven months of 2018, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 1.14 trillion, compared to a surplus of JPY 2.4 trillion in the same period a year earlier.