Japan's April trade deficit widens

23 May 2012, 11:07 am   -   Source: AAP

Japan has reported a bigger-than-expected trade deficit of 520.3 billion yen ($A6.66 billion) for April.

Japan reported a bigger-than-expected trade deficit of 520.3 billion yen ($A6.66 billion) for April, as higher energy costs pushed up energy import bills, the finance ministry said.

The deficit was larger than a shortfall of 477.7 billion yen registered in April 2011, a month after Japan was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami which battered the world's third-largest economy.

Wednesday's result was also bigger than the 470 billion yen deficit expected by economists.

Exports in April rose 7.9 per cent from a year earlier to 5.57 trillion yen as more vehicles and car parts were shipped.

Imports also climbed 8 per cent to 6.87 trillion yen, driven by demand for fuel for thermal power generation after nuclear reactors were shut down throughout Japan following the crisis set off in March 2011 tsunami, the finance ministry said.

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