TOKYO - Exports rose at a faster-than-expected 12% pace in March, while imports jumped nearly 16% from a year earlier, the government said on Thursday. The 7.23 trillion yen (US$66 billion) in exports and 6.61 trillion yen ($60 billion) in imports resulted in a trade surplus of 614.7 billion yen ($5.6 billion), down 17.5% from a year before. A revival of demand in China helped push exports up 16.4% from the year before to 1.3 trillion yen ($11 billion). Exports to the US climbed 3.5% to 1.35 trillion yen ($12 billion), while imports jumped 16.3% to 725 billion yen ($6.7 billion), leaving a surplus of 628.1 billion yen ($5.8 billion). Vehicle exports rose 4%, while exports of electrical machinery were up 11%.

Source: Bangkok Post April 20, 2017 03:45 UTC