Japan’s Export Growth increases, trade surplus falls

As a result of the emerging markets in Asia counterbalancing the slowdown of the US economy, Japanese exports have grown with analysts estimates rising 4 percent, 1.7 percent above the figure for March.

Japan’s export growth has remained strong even though exports to the US have fallen for an eight consecutive months which was matched only back in 2004.

During that period, the Yen coincided with the housing recession which resulted in a reduced demand for Japanese goods and consumer goods such as electronics.

In the meantime China, Russia, India and the middle east have become big importers of Japanese goods and companies such as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Komatsu Inc have benefited from this expansion.

The trade surplus fell by 485.0 billion yen the equivalent of 46.3 percent from last year compared to April last year where the rising energy prices and raw materials were accelerating imports in a period where exports to the US were slow.

The fact that the Yen was more robust meant that there was a smaller growth in exports which caused the huge drop in the trade surplus.

During the month the dollar averaged 100.69 yen rising 17.5 percent from the year before.

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