The data added to the mounting concerns that Japan's recovery is faltering and that authorities might have to take additional steps to check the yen's rise.
Japanese exports registered their slowest growth this year in August on the back of slow global demand and a stronger yen, data released by the government showed on Monday.
The data added to the mounting concerns that Japan's recovery is faltering and that authorities might have to take additional steps to check the yen's rise.
Japan's exports rose 15.8% in August from the year earlier to ¥5.2bn (US$62mn), according to data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance. This was the slowest growth in exports since December 2009. Imports rose 17.9% to ¥5.1bn.
The country's trade surplus totaled ¥103.2bn, down from ¥165.2bn in the year-ago period. Economists had been expecting a ¥200bn surplus.
This was the first decline in Japan's trade surplus in 15 months.
From a month earlier, exports fell 2.3%, today’s report showed.
The Japanese currency has gained 10% against the dollar this year, eroding the value of profits exporters earn overseas and hurting their competitiveness abroad. It traded at 84.33 as of 10:34 a.m. from 84.39 before the report.
The value of exports to China, Japan’s biggest market, climbed 18.5% in August from a year earlier, compared with 22.7% in July. Exports to the US gained 8.8%, slowing from 25.9% in July, as demand for automobiles slipped for the first time since October 2009. Shipments to Europe increased 13.7%.
Separately, reports suggested that Japan's government is considering a supplementary spending bill of up US$55bn to help pay for fiscal programs to offset the stronger yen and help boost the sluggish economy.
The ruling Democratic Part of Japan could succumb to political pressure and announce fresh emergency stimulus funds, the Financial Times reported.
Japanese exports registered their slowest growth this year in August on the back of slow global demand and a stronger yen, data released by the government showed on Monday.
The data added to the mounting concerns that Japan's recovery is faltering and that authorities might have to take additional steps to check the yen's rise.
Japan's exports rose 15.8% in August from the year earlier to ¥5.2bn (US$62mn), according to data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance. This was the slowest growth in exports since December 2009. Imports rose 17.9% to ¥5.1bn.
The country's trade surplus totaled ¥103.2bn, down from ¥165.2bn in the year-ago period. Economists had been expecting a ¥200bn surplus.
This was the first decline in Japan's trade surplus in 15 months.
From a month earlier, exports fell 2.3%, today’s report showed.
The Japanese currency has gained 10% against the dollar this year, eroding the value of profits exporters earn overseas and hurting their competitiveness abroad. It traded at 84.33 as of 10:34 a.m. from 84.39 before the report.
The value of exports to China, Japan’s biggest market, climbed 18.5% in August from a year earlier, compared with 22.7% in July. Exports to the US gained 8.8%, slowing from 25.9% in July, as demand for automobiles slipped for the first time since October 2009. Shipments to Europe increased 13.7%.
Separately, reports suggested that Japan's government is considering a supplementary spending bill of up US$55bn to help pay for fiscal programs to offset the stronger yen and help boost the sluggish economy.
The ruling Democratic Part of Japan could succumb to political pressure and announce fresh emergency stimulus funds, the Financial Times reported.