Japan trade deficit plunges to record low
23 Oct 2012 1:54 AM GMT
Registered its biggest-ever trade deficit for a half of a fiscal year, in a sign that the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the strained relationship with China over a territorial dispute have eroded Japanese exports, government data showed on Monday.
For the first half of fiscal 2012 through September, Japan logged about USD 40.6 billion (3,219 billion yen) in goods trade deficit, up 90.1 per cent from a year earlier and the biggest since the finance ministry began recording in 1979.
In September alone, the deficit stood at 558.6 billion yen, the third straight month of red ink and the largest for the month of September, the ministry said in a preliminary report, augmenting fears that violent anti-Japan rallies and boycotting of Japanese products in China have weighed on the exports to the biggest trading partner.
Exports in the first half decelerated 2.0 per cent from the same period of fiscal 2011 to 32,160.3 billion yen on declines in semiconductors and other electronic devices to Europe, particularly Germany, after the eurozone crisis deteriorated consumer and business sentiments in the area.
Imports grew 2.6 per cent to 35,379.3 billion yen on increases in mineral fuels, including liquefied natural gas and crude oil from the Middle East, as domestic utilities have boosted thermal power generation to cover the loss of nearly all atomic power due to reactor shutdowns following the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The figures are measured on a customs-cleared basis.
Exports to China fell 8.2 per cent to 5,921.1 billion yen in the first half and slid 14.1 per cent to 953.8 billion yen in September, sharper than the 9.9 per cent fall in August. It was the fourth consecutive month of deficit as various products, ranging from auto and auto parts to steel and semiconductors, declined notably.
The balance showed Japan suffered the biggest September deficit with China of 329.5 billion yen, as imports gained 3.8 per cent to 1,283.3 billion yen.
For the first half of fiscal 2012 through September, Japan logged about USD 40.6 billion (3,219 billion yen) in goods trade deficit, up 90.1 per cent from a year earlier and the biggest since the finance ministry began recording in 1979.
In September alone, the deficit stood at 558.6 billion yen, the third straight month of red ink and the largest for the month of September, the ministry said in a preliminary report, augmenting fears that violent anti-Japan rallies and boycotting of Japanese products in China have weighed on the exports to the biggest trading partner.
Exports in the first half decelerated 2.0 per cent from the same period of fiscal 2011 to 32,160.3 billion yen on declines in semiconductors and other electronic devices to Europe, particularly Germany, after the eurozone crisis deteriorated consumer and business sentiments in the area.
Imports grew 2.6 per cent to 35,379.3 billion yen on increases in mineral fuels, including liquefied natural gas and crude oil from the Middle East, as domestic utilities have boosted thermal power generation to cover the loss of nearly all atomic power due to reactor shutdowns following the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The figures are measured on a customs-cleared basis.
Exports to China fell 8.2 per cent to 5,921.1 billion yen in the first half and slid 14.1 per cent to 953.8 billion yen in September, sharper than the 9.9 per cent fall in August. It was the fourth consecutive month of deficit as various products, ranging from auto and auto parts to steel and semiconductors, declined notably.
The balance showed Japan suffered the biggest September deficit with China of 329.5 billion yen, as imports gained 3.8 per cent to 1,283.3 billion yen.
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