TOKYO: Japanese exports rose 5.6% year-on-year in August, up for a ninth straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday.

The result compared with a 10% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Japan’s July exports growth lags expectations

Imports grew 2.3% in August from a year earlier, versus a 13.4% increase expected by economists.

As a result, the trade balance stood at a deficit of 695.3 billion yen ($4.90 billion), compared with the forecast of a deficit of 1.38 trillion yen.