Japan’s exports rose 16 percent in November from the previous year, while imports jumped 17 percent.
Customs data showed the trade surplus slipping to $1 billion on exports of $61.4 billion. Imports totaled 6.81 trillion yen ($60.4 billion).
Exports to China rose by 25 percent, helping drive a 20 percent increase in exports to all of Asia. Exports to the U.S. were up 13 percent, while exports to Western Europe climbed 17 percent, led by a 27 percent jump in exports to Germany. A revival in export manufacturing is helping to sustain Japan’s recovery; the strongest growth is in exports of shipments of vehicles and machinery.
Japan’s imports have grown moderately, mainly thanks to limited increases in prices of oil and gas.