Japan’s trade balance posts deficit for 15th straight month

ANKARA

Japan’s trade balance posted a deficit for the 15th straight month, hitting 2.2 trillion yen ($155.6 billion) in October, according to Japanese Finance Ministry data released on Thursday.

The figure was up from 2.09 trillion yen in September.

Imports surged 53.5% year-on-year to a new all-time high of 11.2 trillion yen in October, marking the 21st consecutive month of rise amid strong demand, high commodity prices, and weakening yen.

The country’s exports topped 9 trillion yen in October, soaring 25.3% from a year earlier.

In January-October, the world’s third-largest economy’s trade deficit totaled 16.4 trillion yen versus a surplus of 1.4 billion in the prior year.