Japan’s exports fall for first time in 3 months

Japan’s exports fell slightly in November compared to the same period last year, in the first decline in three months, while imports fell by about 12%, according to a government statement on Wednesday.

The decline in global demand has placed a burden on Japan’s economy, which relies heavily on exports.

At the same time, the decline in the Japanese yen’s exchange rate against the dollar reduced the purchasing power of imports, despite lower oil and gas costs, as oil prices have fallen since September.

Preliminary customs data show exports fell in November by 0.2% to 8.8 trillion Japanese yen (about $61 billion).

Imports fell 11.9% to 9.6 trillion Japanese yen (about $66 billion), leaving a deficit of 776.9 trillion yen (about $5.4 billion).

Exports to the rest of Asia fell 4%, while exports to the United States rose more than 5%. Shipments to China, Japan’s largest foreign market, fell more than 2%.

Japan’s auto exports were a strong point, up 11% from last year, while shipments of computer chips rose 14%.