Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 1,177.463 billion yen in January, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday - marking an annual improvement of 57.9 percent.
The headline figure beat expectations for a shortfall of 1,681.3 billion yen following the 665.2 billion yen deficit in December.
Exports surged 17.0 percent on year to 6.144 trillion yen, topping forecasts for an increase of 13.5 percent following the 12.8 percent gain in the previous month.
Exports to all of Asia jumped 22.7 percent on year to 3.314 trillion yen, while exports to China alone climbed an annual 20.8 percent to 1.041 trillion yen.
Exports to the United States climbed 16.5 percent on year to 1.192 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union gained an annual 7.4 percent to 656.29 billion yen.
Imports tumbled an annual 9.0 percent to 7.322 trillion yen versus forecasts for a fall of 4.9 percent after adding 1.9 percent a month earlier.
Imports from all of Asia shed 3.0 percent on year to 3.562 trillion yen, while imports from China alone dropped an annual 6.9 percent to 1.778 trillion yen.
Imports from the United States eased 1.4 percent on year to 647.255 billion yen, while imports from the European Union dipped an annual 3.1 percent to 678.526 billion yen.
The adjusted trade balance showed a deficit of 406.1 billion yen - which beat expectations for a shortfall of 598.1 billion yen following the 620.7 billion yen deficit in December.
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