Japan June exports rise 1.5% year-on-year

TOKYO  – Japan’s exports in June rose 1.5 percent from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.

The rise was less than a 2.2- percent gain expected by 15 economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 0.6- percent rise in May.

Imports fell 12.9 percent year-on-year in June, versus the median estimate for an 11.3- percent decrease.

The trade balance came to a surplus of 43 billion yen ($307.96 million), versus the median estimate for a 46.7 billion yen deficit. It was the first time in 23 months the trade balance has recorded a surplus.

($1 = 139.6300 yen)