Japan’s Exports Increased 16.1% in March YoY

Data from Japan’s Finance Ministry showed on Monday that the country’s exports jumped 16.1% in March compared to the same period a year ago, as demand for goods recovered from low levels reached last year due to the pandemic.

The reading compares with an 11.6 increase that economists had forecast in a Reuters poll and came after a decline of 4.5% in February.

Imports rose 5.7% in the year to March, against an average forecast of 4.7% and an 11.8% increase the previous month.

The trade balance achieved a surplus of 663.7 billion yen (6.11 billion dollars), against an average forecast of a surplus of 490 billion yen.