Published January 08, 2015
Japan's trade deficit rose in July from the month before to a wider than expected 964 billion yen ($9.4 billion), though exports were higher for the first time in three months.
It was the 25th straight month of deficits for the world's third-largest economy, due mainly to an increase in imports of oil and gas to compensate for idled nuclear reactors following meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant in 2011.
Exports rose 3.9 percent from a year earlier to 6.19 trillion yen ($60.2 billion), slightly outpacing a 2.3 percent increase in imports, to 7.15 trillion yen ($69.5 billion). Japan recorded an 822 billion yen deficit in June.
Japan's demand for imports has moderated in recent months as business activity slowed following an increase in the national sales tax.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/japan-trade-deficit-widens-in-july-exports-up-on-higher-demand-for-machinery-heavy-vehicles