Japanese exports to Asia hit a record high in July boosted by strong regional demand for equipment to make semiconductors and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
The trade surplus with Asia surged 62.9% to 751.2 billion yen ($6.8 billion), marking the 13th consecutive monthly rise, the finance ministry said.
Asia-bound exports increased 21.2% to 2.63 trillion yen, the highest since 1947, when the finance ministry started taking comparable data. Imports from Asia rose 9.9% to 1.88 trillion yen.
'Asian demand for steppers to make semiconductors and film to make LCDs was very strong,' a finance official said. 'Exports of steel products to China were also high,' he said.
Japan's China-bound exports in July were worth 716.8 billion yen, up 22% from the same month last year, while imports from China reached 842.4 billion yen, up 12.5% year-on-year.
