MNI 5 THINGS: Japan June Exports Rise, Trade in Surplus

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japanese exports continued to rise in June on solid global

demand for chips and car parts, indicating U.S. trade disputes have not yet had

direct impact, trade statistics released Thursday by the Ministry of Finance

showed.

     The key points from the data:

     * Japanese exports rose 6.7% on year in June, coming in weaker than the MNI

median economist forecast for a 7.0% rise. It was the 19th straight year-on-year

rise and the pace of increase decelerated from +8.1% in May.

     * The increase was led by higher shipments of power generating machines,

semiconductors and auto parts. Automobile exports to the U.S. and European Union

declined.

     * Exports to the U.S. marked the first drop in 17 months while those to the

EU posted the 17th straight year-on-year gains. Exports to Asia and China showed

the fourth straight y/y gains.

     * Imports rose 2.5% on year in June, smaller than the MNI median forecast

of +5.3%. It was the third straight year-on-year rise after +14.0% in May, led

by purchases of nonferrous metals, crude oil and clothing.

     * The June trade balance came to a surplus of Y721.4 billion, wider than

the MNI median forecast for a Y538.1 billion surplus. It was the first surplus

in three months after a deficit of Y580.5 billion in May and compared with a

surplus of Y433.2 billion in June 2017.

--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-2175-0040; email: hiroshi.inoue@marketnews.com

--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-4670-5309; email: max.sato@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MAJDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$]