Summary Box: Improving economy lifts imports, exports and trade deficit

September 24th, 2009 TOKYO - Japan posted a trade surplus for the seventh straight month in August, compared to a deficit in the same month the previous year, the finance ministry said Thursday. The surplus was 185.7 billion yen ($2.04 billion) against a deficit of 314.2 billion yen the year before, suggesting a positive trend for Japan's export-led economy.

September 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US trade deficit rose by 16.3 percent to $32 billion in July, the highest level in six months, the commerce department said Thursday. The deficit was much higher than the $27.4 billion expected by economists.

August 11th, 2009 Chinese exports, imports fall sharply in JulyBEIJING — China's government says the decline in the country's exports and imports accelerated in July amid weak global consumer demand. Tuesday's report by the Chinese customs agency says exports were down 22.9 percent from a year earlier, while imports fell 14.9 percent.

August 11th, 2009 UK trade deficit widens in JuneLONDON — Britain's trade deficit widened a little more than forecast in June, official figures showed Tuesday, suggesting that weakness in the pound is not benefiting exporters quite as much as expected. The Office for National Statistics said that the goods trade gap rose to 6.45 billion pounds ($10.60 billion) from 6.17 billion pounds in May.

August 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's merchandise exports fell for the ninth straight month in June and were valued at $12.82 billion, down 27.7 percent over $17.73 billion registered in the like month last year, the latest trade data showed Monday. Imports, too, declined 29.3 percent in June, and were valued at $18.98 billion against $26.86 billion in the corresponding month of last year, showed the data release by the commerce and industry ministry.

August 3rd, 2009 India's exports plunge 27.7 percent in JuneMUMBAI, India — India's merchandise exports fell by more than a quarter in June, the Ministry of Commerce said Monday, marking the nation's ninth month of steeply declining trade. Merchandise exports were valued at 612.17 billion rupees ($12.8 billion), down 27.7 percent in dollar terms from 759.3 billion rupees ($17.7 billion) a year earlier, according to government figures.

July 10th, 2009 May trade deficits dips more than expected to $26BWASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit fell to the lowest level in more than nine years in May as exports posted a small gain while the weak American economy pushed imports down for a 10th straight month.

July 1st, 2009 India's exports plunge 29.2 percent in MayMUMBAI, India — India's exports fell by nearly a third in May, the eighth straight month of declines, as overseas demand withered. Merchandise exports were valued at 534.3 billion rupees ($11.0 billion), up slightly from April, but down 29.2 percent in dollar terms from 655.0 billion rupees ($15.5 billion) a year earlier, according to government figures Wednesday.

July 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's merchandise exports continued to suffer a setback this fiscal to register a decline for the second straight month with the value of shipments 29.2 percent lower at $11.01 billion in May over the same month of last fiscal. Merchandise exports had dipped 33.2 percent to $10.74 billion in April, while in May last year, they were valued at $15.55 billion, as per latest data on foreign trade released here Wednesday by the commerce and industry ministry.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The current fiscal year has started on a sour note for India's merchandise exports sector with the value of such shipments down 33.2 percent at $10.74 billion in April against $16.08 billion in the same month of the previous fiscal. Imports, too, fell 36.6 percent to $15.75 billion in April from $24.82 billion in the like month of last year, according to official data on external trade released by the commerce and industry ministry Monday.

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 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's merchandise exports dipped 21.7 percent in February to Rs.58,685 crore ($11.91 billion), as compared to Rs.60,476 crore ($15.22 billion) in the corresponding month last year, according to government data released Wednesday. Exports figures have been contracting since last October, forcing the commerce ministry to revise the target for 2008-09 to $175 billion from $200 billion following fall in overseas demand.

March 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's merchandise exports fell for the fourth consecutive month in January and were valued at $12.381 billion, down 15.9 percent from the $14.717 billion registered in the like month of last fiscal. Cumulatively, the exports registered a mere 13.2 percent growth in the first 10 months of this fiscal at $144.266 billion against $127.454 billion in the like period of the previous year, official data showed Monday.

February 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - After registering a decline for two successive months, India's merchandise exports were marginally up 1.1 percent in December at $12.690 billion, as against $12.825 billion during the like month of last fiscal. Cumulatively, the exports grew 17.1 percent during the first nine moths of the fiscal to $131.990 billion against $112.737 billion during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, official data showed Monday.

December 31st, 2008 NEW DELHI - The New Year started with some disheartening news for India's exporting community with the latest trade data showing a 9.9-percent drop in outbound merchandise shipments in November - the second straight month of decline. Exports during November were valued at $11.505 million, which was 9.9 percent lower than the $12.768 million during the like month of last fiscal, as per data released by the commerce and industry ministry Thursday.