Japan's June exports rise 9.5% year on year

[TOKYO] Japan's exports rose 9.5 per cent in June from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday, in a sign overseas demand bounced back from a dip last month.

The rise compares with a 10.0 per cent annual increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It was the fastest pace of rise in five months and followed a 2.4 per cent year-on-year increase in May, data showed.

Imports fell 2.9 per cent in the year to June, versus the median estimate for a 4.0 per cent annual decrease.

The trade balance came to a deficit of 69.0 billion yen (S$760 million), versus the median estimate for a 5.4 billion yen surplus.

REUTERS