Japan Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in February

Japan posted a trade surplus of JPY 339 billion in February 2019, compared with a JPY 14 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier. Exports declined for a third straight month while imports dropped the most in over two years.

Exports from Japan declined 1.2% from a year earlier to JPY 6.38 trillion in February 2019, amid weakening global demand and the US-China trade dispute. Imports to Japan slumped 6.7% from a year earlier to JPY 6.05 trillion in February 2019, following a revised 0.8% decline in the previous month.