TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese exports dropped 1.7% year-on-year in September, marking the first decrease in 10 months, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Thursday.
The result compared with a 0.5% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.
Imports grew 2.1% in September from a year earlier, versus a 3.2% increase expected by economists.
As a result, the trade balance stood at a deficit of 294.3 billion yen ($1.97 billion), compared with the forecast of a deficit of 237.6 billion yen.
($1 = 149.6200 yen)
(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
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