Japan April exports rise 2.6% year/year – MOF

TOKYO  – Japan‘s exports rose 2.6 percent in April from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday.

The rise compares with a 3-percent increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 4.3-percent rise in March.

Imports fell 2.3 percent in the year to April, versus the median estimate for a 0.3-percent decrease.

The trade balance came to a deficit of 432.4 billion yen ($3.20 billion), versus the median estimate for a 613.8 billion yen shortfall.