Japan logs trade surplus of 113.6 billion yen in August

September 20, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's customs-cleared trade balance resulted in 113.6 billion yen in surplus in August, staying in the black for the third straight month, Ministry of Finance data showed Wednesday.

But the surplus shrank from the levels of over 400 billion yen in the preceding two months.

In trade with the United States, Japan's surplus jumped 49.6 percent from a year before to 534.7 billion yen, buoyed by brisk automobile-related exports.

US-bound exports increased 28.3 percent for automobiles, mainly those with engine displacements of 2,000-3,000 cc., and 24.8 percent for auto parts.

As US President Donald Trump has been eager to rectify his country's trade imbalances with other nations, Washington may make tough demands on Tokyo during the second round of their economic dialogue scheduled for October.

Japan's overall exports in August rose 18.1 percent to 6,278 billion yen on the back of growth in semiconductor shipments to Hong Kong as well as robust auto-related exports to the United States.

Japan saw its imports increase 15.2 percent to 6,164.4 billion yen, reflecting a rise in purchases of coal and liquefied natural gas from Australia.

In trade with the European Union, Japan logged a deficit of 84.6 billion yen, the first red ink in two months.

With mainland China, Japan posted a trade deficit of 239.8 billion yen. The balance stayed in the red for the sixth consecutive month. Jiji Press