Japan’s exports rise 4.2% in February from year earlier

[TOKYO] Japanese exports rose 4.2 per cent year-on-year in February, up for a sixth straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday.

The result compared with a 1.6 per cent increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Imports grew 10.2 per cent in February from a year earlier, versus an 11.5 per cent increase expected by economists.

The trade balance stood at a surplus of 57.3 billion yen (S$460.6 million), compared with the forecast of a deficit of 483.2 billion yen. REUTERS