Tokyo - Japan's exports jumped 12.9% from a year earlier to ¥6.9trn in December for the fourth straight month of rise due to a weaker yen and rising vehicle shipments, the government said on Monday.
Exports rose strongly especially to Asia and the United States, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report.
Exports to Asian countries, including China, rose 11% to ¥3.73trn, with shipments of semiconductor equipment growing 18.7%.
Shipments to the United States jumped 23.7% to ¥1.4trn with vehicle exports up 21.3%.
The depreciation of the yen makes Japanese goods more competitive overseas and improves repatriated revenues.
The value of overall imports declined 1.9% to ¥7.56trn, leading to a trade shortfall of ¥660.7bn in December, down 49.5% from a year earlier, the ministry said