TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's trade deficit in the first half of fiscal 2023 through September fell 75.1 percent to 2.72 trillion yen (18.2 billion U.S. dollars), amid declining imported energy costs and the yen's depreciation, while exports grew to a record high, the government said in a report on Thursday.
According to the finance ministry, in the reporting period, imports dropped 12.4 percent to 52.96 trillion yen, as the value of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal all declined, while exports came to a record 50.24 trillion yen, up 1.4 percent, supported by robust auto shipments to the United States.
In September alone, Japan logged a 62.4 billion yen trade surplus. Exports increased 4.3 percent to 9.20 trillion yen, while imports fell 16.3 percent to 9.14 trillion yen. (1 Japanese yen equals 0.0067 U.S. dollar) ■