Japan posts current account deficit for first time in 2 years

Leika Kihara

Sun, Mar 9, 2025, 7:53 PM 1 min read

By Leika Kihara

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan recorded a existent relationship shortage successful January for the archetypal clip successful 2 years arsenic a anemic yen inflated the outgo of imports, concern ministry information showed connected Monday.

A boost successful imports of smartphones and physics parts successful the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday, which started astatine the extremity of January, besides pushed up full imports during the month, the information showed.

Japan's existent relationship shortage successful January stood astatine 257.6 cardinal yen ($1.75 billion), bigger than a median marketplace forecast for a shortage of 230.5 cardinal yen, the information showed.

Imports roseate 17.7% successful January from a twelvemonth earlier, portion exports roseate 2.1%, according to the data.

($1 = 147.5000 yen)

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)