2023-03-16 00:27:15 ET
- Japan's trade deficit increased to JPY 897.7 billion in February 2023 from JPY 711.5 billion in the same month a year earlier, compared with market consensus of a gap of JPY 1,069 billion.
- This was the 19th straight month of a trade shortfall, the longest stretch since 2015, while marking the largest trade gap for the month of February.
- Imports rose by 8.3% yoy, the 25th straight month of growth but the slowest pace since March 2021.
- Meantime, exports grew at a softer of 6.5%, the 24th straight month of rise but the softest rate since a fall in February 2021, to JPY 7,654.7 billion.
- In 2022, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 19,971.3 billion, the second straight annual shortfall and the biggest since 1979, driven by a surge in imports amid high commodity prices and the slump in yen.
- ETFs: JEQ , EWJ , DXJ , FXY .
For further details see:
Japan logs trade gap for 19th month for February as soaring energy prices pushed up the value of imports