TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s exports rose 20.5% in November from a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.
The reading compared with a 21.2% gain expected by economists in a Reuters poll and followed a 9.4% rise in the month prior.
Imports increased 43.8% in the year to November, versus the median estimate for an 40.0% increase and a 26.7% advance in the previous month.
The trade balance came to a deficit of 954.8 billion yen ($8.37 billion), against the median estimate for a 675.0 billion yen deficit.
($1 = 114.1400 yen)
(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya)
