In volume terms, Japan's exports rose 5.5% in November from a year ago, the 10th consecutive month of rises, led by robust shipments to China and Asia, the data showed. The data backs the Bank of Japan's optimistic outlook for the Japanese economy, the world's third largest. Shipments to Asia, which account for more than half of Japan's exports, grew 20.4% in the year to November to 3.89 trillion yen, the record amount. Monday's data marked the fifth straight month of annual growth in Japan's trade surplus with the United States. The trade balance resulted in a surplus of 113.4 billion yen, against the median estimate for a 54.9 billion yen shortfall, marking the sixth straight surplus month.

Source: Bangkok Post December 18, 2017 03:11 UTC