Japan’s deficit reaches 8-year high as energy imports soar

Japan racked up a 2.2 trillion yen (USD 19 billion) trade deficit last month, an eight-year high, as the cost of energy imports soared, the government said Thursday.

The Finance Ministry said exports edged up 9.6 per cent in January from the same month the previous year. Imports jumped 39.6 per cent, resulting in the sixth straight month of trade deficits, it said.