Japanese imports and exports beat expectations in August

Imports and Exports | | MIC Customs Solutions |

Japanese exports and imports both exceeded expectations during August 2017, with the rise in exports marking the biggest gain in almost four years.


Japan recorded a better-than-expected international trade performance during August 2017, according to the latest official data.

Exports for the month were up by 18.1 per cent compared to a year earlier, which marked the largest such increase since November 2013, as well as exceeding the forecast of a 14.3 per cent rise made by economists polled by Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, imports were up by 15.2 per cent, which was greater than the forecast of an 11.6 per cent rise. As such, Japan's adjusted trade balance showed a surplus of 367.3 billion yen (€2.74 billion), marking 22 months of consecutive surpluses.

With the Japanese economy growing at an annualized rate of 2.5 percent in the second quarter, there are signs that the nation's recent recovery is gaining momentum, with shipments of autos to the US proving particularly strong.

Hiroaki Muto, chief economist at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said: "In the third quarter, we will see a trend reversal in the Japanese economy. External demand will be strong and consumption will lack momentum."