Japan Nov exports up 20%, overwhelmed by hefty imports -MOF

TOKYO  – Japan’s exports rose 20 percent in November from a year earlier but imports outpaced shipments, resulting in a 16th straight month of trade deficits, Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.

The rise in exports matched a 19.8 percent gain expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 25.3-percent gain in October.

Imports rose 30.3 percent in the year to November, versus the median estimate for a 27-percent increase expected by economists and a 53.5-percent jump in October.

As a result, the trade balance came to a deficit of 2.03 trillion yen ($15.00 billion), versus the median estimate for a 1.68 trillion yen shortfall.