Tokyo, March 16 (Prensa Latina) For the seventh consecutive month, Japan reported a negative trade balance marked by supply restrictions and an increase in import costs, the Ministry of Finance reported today.
The trade deficit was 668,255 million yen (5,646 million dollars) in February, which contrasts with the surplus of 175,927 million yen (1,486 million dollars) recorded in the same month last year .
However, it was lower than January’s, filed as the highest for a single month in eight years.
Exports increased 19.1 percent from February 2021 to 7.19 trillion yen ($60.754 million), less than forecast.
Meanwhile, imports advanced 34 percent year-on-year, reaching 7.85 billion (66.4 billion dollars).
By countries, Japan registered with China, its largest trading partner, a trade deficit of 55,624 million yen (469 million dollars), which is 79.7 percent less year-on-year.
In parallel, the deficit with the European Union was 194,168 million yen (1,638 million dollars), 363.9 percent more year-on-year.
On the contrary, with the United States it added a surplus of 402 thousand 837 million yen (3 thousand 404 million dollars), which implies 14.2 percent less than a year ago.
These indicators are a worrying sign in a context marked by supply problems and economic tensions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine.
“There is a high probability that the trade deficit will expand further,” said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at the Norinchukin Research Institute.
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