TOKYO (Aug 16): Japan's exports rose 3.9 percent in July from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday.
The rise compared with a 6.3 percent increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 6.7 percent year-on-year rise in June.
Imports rose 14.6 percent in the year to July, versus economists' median estimate for a 14.4 percent increase.
The trade balance came to a deficit of 231.2 billion yen ($2.1 billion), versus the median estimate of a 50.0 billion yen deficit.