Japan logs trade surplus in August, exports shrink

September 24th, 2009 Japan mired in slump as exports, imports tumbleTOKYO — Japan's exports tumbled 36 percent in August — with car shipments falling by half — and imports also contracted sharply, the government said Thursday, showing the world's No. 2 economy remains mired in a deep slump.

September 10th, 2009 China's exports, trade surplus fall in AugustSHANGHAI — China's exports languished in August, contracting 23 percent, increasing the onus on Beijing's massive stimulus spending to drive an economic recovery. Customs data released Friday show August's exports were worth $103.7 billion compared with $134.9 billion in the same month a year earlier.

September 8th, 2009 Japan's current account surplus down 19.4 percentTOKYO — Japan's current account surplus in July fell 19.4 percent from a year earlier as exports tumbled amid a slow recovery in the global economy, the finance ministry said Tuesday. The current account surplus, Japan's broadest measure of trade with the rest of the world, was 1.27 trillion yen ($13.6 billion), the first year-on-year fall in two months, the ministry said.

August 19th, 2009 TOKYO - China was Japan's biggest trading partner in the first six months this year, according to a report Wednesday. For the first time, Japan's exports to China surpassed those to the US.

July 17th, 2009 BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) exports to India between January and April stood at 8.3 billion euros (about $11 billion), while the figure in the same period last year was 10.3 billion euros (about $14 billion), the EuAsiaNews said Friday. The Eurostat, statistical bureau of the EU, said the trade flow of the 27-member European block with all its major partners, including India, fell in the first four months of this year.

July 1st, 2009 South Korea's June trade surplus hits recordSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's trade surplus hit a record high in June as a decline in exports caused by the global economic slowdown eased and imports fell, government data showed Wednesday. South Korea had a trade surplus of $7.4 billion in June, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a release.

May 13th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan's current-account surplus narrowed for the first time in seven years for the year ending March 31, after the global economic downturn caused sharp decline in exports, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. The current account shows the gap between a country's income from foreign sources and foreign obligations payable, excluding net capital investment.

May 1st, 2009 South Korea's April trade surplus hits recordSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's trade surplus hit a record high for the second straight month in April as imports fell sharply on cheaper costs for oil and as declines in exports eased, the government said Friday. South Korea had a trade surplus of $6.02 billion in April, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a release.

April 29th, 2009 SKorea notches record current account surplusSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea posted a record current account surplus in March as imports fell sharply, the central bank said Wednesday. In a hopeful sign, exports dropped less than in previous months.

April 22nd, 2009 Japan's exports dive 46 percent in MarchTOKYO — Japan's exports continued to slump in March, hit by declining shipments of autos and electronics, underlining a grim outlook for the world's second-largest economy as it struggles to climb out of recession. Japan also recorded its first annual trade deficit in 28 years for the 12 months through March, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday, as the global economic crisis sank demand for the nation's mainstay exports.

April 22nd, 2009 Japan posts first annual trade deficit in 28 yearsTOKYO — Japan reported Wednesday its first annual trade deficit in 28 years. The deficit for the fiscal year that ended in March was 725.3 billion yen ($7.35 billion), the Finance Ministry said.

April 22nd, 2009 TOKYO - Japan's trade balance for fiscal 2008 marked the first deficit in 28 years due to rise in commodity prices and slower exports to the US and other major economies, the finance ministry said Wednesday. The nation's trade deficit logged 725.32 billion yen ($7.38 billion) in fiscal 2008 that ended in March, the ministry said.

March 25th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan's exports dropped by 49.4 percent in February, the biggest plunge on record, as global demand for cars and electronics declined, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday. Exports dropped to 3.5 trillion yen ($35.7 billion) year-on-year in February, the fifth consecutive monthly drop and the biggest since the beginning of records in 1980.

March 9th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan logged its first current account deficit in 13 years in January of 172.8 billion yen ($1.8 billion), the Finance Ministry data showed Monday. It was the first current account deficit since January 1996 and the largest since comparable data became available in January 1985, the government said.

February 25th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan logged the largest trade deficit on record in January as the global recession slowed exports, the finance ministry said Wednesday. The nation's trade deficit totalled 952.6 billion yen ($9.97 billion) in January.