Japan Exports Rise 7.3% Year/Year in March

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
Shipping containers are seen at a port in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2017.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s exports grew 7.3% year-on-year in March, up for the fourth straight month, Ministry of Finance data showed on Wednesday.

The reading compared with a 7.0% increase seen in a Reuters poll of economists and followed a 7.8% gain in the previous month.

Imports fell 4.9% in the year to March, versus a decline of 4.7% expected and a 0.5% gain in February.

As a result, the trade balance stood at a surplus of 366.5 billion yen ($2.37 billion), compared with the forecast of 299.9 billion yen.