— Japan May 1st 20-Day Exports +9.3% Y/Y Vs Apr +7.9%
— Japan May 1st 20-Day Imports -1.4% Y/Y Vs Apr +8.1%
— Japan Apr 1st 20-Day Trade Deficit Y748.78 Bln

TOKYO (MNI) – Japan’s exports rose in the first 20 days of May as
the economy is recovering gradually in the absence of the major supply
chain breakdown caused by the earthquake disaster last year, data
released by the Ministry of Finance showed on Friday.

Exports in the first 20 days of last month came to Y2.99 trillion,
up 9.3% from a year earlier, when shipments of cars and electronics were
hit by the disaster. It followed a 7.9% rise in the whole of April this
year.

Imports fell 1.4% y/y to Y3.74 trillion in the first 20 days of May
following a 8.1% rise in the previous month.

As a result, Japan’s trade balance for the first 20 days of May
posted a deficit of Y748.78 trillion, compared with a deficit of Y1.06
trillion in the first 20 days of May 2011.

tokyo@marketnews.com
** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **

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