— Japan June Trade Surplus Y61.7 Bln; MNI Fcast -Y128.2 Bln
— Japan June Exports -2.3% Y/Y; MNI Median Forecast -3.0%
— Japan June Exports Post 1st Fall in 4 months
— Japan June Imports -2.2% Y/Y; MNI Median Forecast -0.2%
— Japan June Imports Post 1st Fall in 30 months
— Japan June Exports to Asia -4.4% Y/Y, 1st Fall In 2 Months
— Japan June Exports To China -7.3% Y/Y, 1st Fall in 2 Months
— Japan June Exports To US +15.1% Y/Y, 8th Rise In Row
— Japan June Exports To EU -21.3% Y/Y, 9th Drop In Row

TOKYO (MNI) – Japan’s global shipments fell for the first time in
four months in June amid growing uncertainties about prospects for
Chinese and European economies, data from the Ministry of Finance showed
Wednesday.

Japanese exports dropped 2.3% to Y5.64 trillion in June from a year
earlier, following rises of 10.0% in May, 7.9% in April and 5.9% in
March.

The headline figure was slightly better than the median forecast
for a 3.0% fall in a MNI survey of economists.

In June this year, exports of fuels dropped 23.1% from a year
earlier, and shipments of PC and PC parts fell 20.3%.

Despite the downturn in exports, Japan posted a trade surplus of
Y61.7 billion last month, marking the first surplus in four months, and
compared with a year earlier surplus of 64.5 billion, thanks to declines
in imports.

The June trade figure came in better than the median forecast by
economists in a MNI survey for a deficit of Y128.2 billion.

Japanese imports fell 2.2% to Y5.58 trillion for the first fall in
30 months.

The pace of decline was bigger than the median forecast by
economists in a MNI survey for a 0.2% fall.

In June, imported crude oil prices averaged $115.3 a barrel, up a
marginal 0.5% on year. The pace of growth decelerated from rises of 5.0%
in May, 13.5% in April, 17.7% in March and 21.2% in February.

Exports to Asia, the largest market for Japanese goods, fell 4.4%
to Y3.1 trillion in June, the first fall in two months, as exports to
China tumbled 7.3% to Y1.0 trillion last month, the first fall in two
months.

Last month, China’s central bank lowered benchmark lending and
deposit rates for the first time since the global financial crisis in
the most aggressive move yet to shore up growth in the face of rapidly
slowing economic activity.

Exports to the U.S. surged 15.1% to Y989.3 billion in June for an
eighth straight rise, led by brisk shipments of automobiles.

Meanwhile, exports to the European Union fell 21.3% to Y519.4
billion in June for a ninth straight year-on-year fall.

tokyo@marketnews.com

** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **

[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$,MT$$$$]