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TOKYO (AP) – Japan’s exports in July jumped 37% from a year ago, the government said on Wednesday, highlighting a recovery abroad after the coronavirus pandemic.
Imports also rose, rising 28.5%, according to finance ministry data, for the second consecutive month of a trade surplus for the world’s third-largest economy.
Japan’s exports increased to the United States, Asia and Europe; while imports increased from Brazil, Belgium and Kuwait. By category, exports increased in food, steel and electronic parts. Imports increased in food products, auto parts and petroleum. Japan recorded a trade surplus with the United States, but a deficit with China in July.
The high trade figures come even as Japan experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases that are leading some hospitals to turn away patients.
The government’s state of emergency has been extended from Tuesday to September 12. It was previously scheduled to end this month.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has also extended the less strict emergency and near-emergency regions to around two-thirds of the nation. He promised that hospital systems will be overhauled to increase COVID-19 patient care services.
Japan has tried to balance reducing infections while keeping the economy running. The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 1.3% during the April-June quarter.
The urgency is to shut down restaurants and bars early and not serve alcohol and ask department stores and malls to limit crowd sizes. Some government advisers have suggested that more stringent measures may be needed.
Japan has recorded more than 15,000 deaths linked to COVID-19. But concerns are growing about the new, more contagious delta variant. After the Tokyo Olympics were held without fans, the Paralympic Games will open later this month with similar anti-virus measures in place.
Although the vaccine rollout started slowly, around 40% of the population is now fully immunized.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
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