Japan exports down for 5th straight month

Tokyo

JAPAN'S exports fell for the fifth month in a row in February, and although shipments to China picked up worries remain that fragile overseas demand could tip the world's third-largest economy into its fourth recession in five years.

Exports fell 4 per cent year-on-year in February, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday, more than the median estimate for a 3.1 per cent annual decline.