2016.07.2420:45:00UTC+00Japan June Trade Surplus Y692.835 Billion

Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus 692.835 billion yen in June, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.

That topped expectations for 474.4 billion yen following the upwardly revised 40.6 billion yen deficit in May (originally -40.7 billion).

Exports were down 7.4 percent on year, topping forecasts for a fall of 11.3 percent, which would have been unchanged from, the previous month.

Exports to all of Asia fell 10.6 percent on year to 3,150.518 billion yen, while exports to China alone were down 10.0 percent to 1,043.810 billion yen.

Exports to the United States slipped an annual 6.5 percent to 1,217.963 billion yen, while exports to the European Union eased 0.4 percent to 662.719 billion yen.

Imports tumbled an annual 18.8 percent, also exceeding expectations for a fall of 20.0 percent following the 13.8 percent drop a month earlier.

Imports from all of Asia fell 15.1 percent on year to 2,708.921 billion yen, while imports from just China alone skidded 12.4 percent to 1,378.862 billion yen.

Imports from the United States tumbled an annual 17.2 percent to 599.588 billion yen, while imports from the European Union fell an annual 6.6 percent to 650.665 billion yen.

The adjusted trade surplus was 355.0 billion yen - beating expectations for 244.2 billion yen and up from 269.8 billion in May.