Japan’s exports rise and imports decline in Sept

Tokyo Japan’s exports climbed 4.3% in September from a year earlier as shipments of vehicles, machinery and electronics rose while imports of oil and gas fell sharply, the government said Thursday.

Exports totaled 9.2 trillion yen ($61 billion) in September while imports fell 16.3 per cent from the year before to 10.9 trillion yen ($72 billion), according to provisional customs data released Thursday. That left a positive balance of 62.4 trillion yen ($410 billion), the first monthly trade surplus in three months. September’s increase in exports was the biggest gain since March and was stronger than analysts had expected. The figures suggest strong activity in Japan’s vital manufacturing sector despite faltering global demand.