MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Apr Exports -2.4% Y/Y; Imports +6.4% YY

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's exports fell for a fifth consecutive month in April,

but imports rose again, data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Finance

showed.

     The key points from the data:

     --Japan's exports fell 2.4% year-on-year in April, the same rate as in

March. This is the fifth straight monthly fall and comes in below MNI's median

economist forecast of a 1.5% decrease.

     --Imports jumped 6.4% year-on-year in April, up for the second time in four

months. The rise came in stronger than MNI's median of 4.8% growth. 

     --April's trade surplus, led by larger imports and smaller exports,

narrowed to Y60.4 billion from Y528.5 billion recorded in the previous month.

     --Exports to China and the European Union slumped 6.3% and 2.6%

respectively, compared with last month's 9.4% and 9.6% falls. Exports to the

U.S., however, increased 9.6% from the 4.4% increase reported in March. 

     --Imports from China grew 5.9% in April from 10.9% previously, while those

from the U.S. and the EU also rose by 2.3% and 10.6% respectively.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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