Japan reported a trade deficit of JPY 839.2 billion in April 2022, compared with market consensus of a gap of JPY 1,159 billion and swinging from a surplus of JPY 226.8 billion in the same month a year earlier. The latest figure marked the ninth straight month of trade shortfall, as exports grew by 12.5% yoy, the least in three months, to JPY 8,076.2 billion while imports jumped 28.2% to a fresh record peak of JPY 8,915.4 billion due to rising crude oil prices and a weak yen. Considering the first four month of the year, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 4,113.4 billion, compared to a surplus of JPY 691.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2021.
