Japanese exports rose in April from a year earlier on the back of robust growth in Asia and a recovery in the United States, though Europe's debt woes could cloud the outlook for Japan's export-led recovery.

Key Points:

  • Exports rose 40.4 percent in April from a year earlier, exceeding economists' median forecast for a 38.9 percent rise.
  • Exports to Asia, which account for more than half of Japan's total exports, jumped 45.3 percent from a year earlier.
  • Exports to China rose 41.4 percent from a year earlier, while exports to the United States gained an annual 34.5 percent.
  • The trade balance came to a surplus of 742.3 billion yen ($8.25 billion), against the median estimate for a 709.3 billion yen surplus. (Reuters)