Japan posted its first trade surplus in five months in November, supported by a recovery in shipments to the United States and steady growth in exports of technology-related goods to other parts of Asia, Kyodo News reports. Official figures suggest that external demand is beginning to offset persistent weaknesses in trade with China and higher import volumes from Europe.

The surplus totalled JPY322.3bn, equivalent to about $2bn, marking a turnaround after several months of deficits. Overall exports rose 6.1% from a year earlier to JPY9.71 trillion, extending a run of increases to a third consecutive month. The rise was driven by stronger sales of semiconductors and electronic components to Asian markets, alongside pharmaceutical exports to the US.

According to Kyodo as cited by The Mainichi, imports also increased, though at a more moderate pace. They climbed 1.3% to JPY9.39 trillion, reflecting higher purchases of engines from the European Union as well as chips and related parts from across Asia.

Trade with the US showed particular improvement. Exports to the country grew 8.8% to JPY1.82 trillion, aided by a rebound in automobile shipments and a fading impact from previously imposed tariffs. Japan recorded a trade surplus of nearly JPY740bn with the US, the first expansion in seven months, while imports from the country rose more than 7%.

By contrast, trade with China remained a drag. Japan ran a deficit of almost JPY778bn with its largest Asian neighbour, extending a long sequence of monthly shortfalls and underlining the uneven nature of its external recovery.