Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 513.510 billion yen in July, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday.
That beat expectations for a surplus of 273.2 billion yen following the upwardly revised 693.1 billion yen surplus in June (originally 692.835 billion yen).
Exports were down 14.0 percent on year, missing forecasts for a decline of 13.8 percent after sliding 7.4 percent in the previous month.
Exports to all of Asia fell 13.9 percent on year to 3,043.816 billion yen, while exports to China alone were down 12.7 percent to 1,029.906 billion yen.
Exports to the United States slipped an annual 11.8 percent to 1,182.479 billion yen, while exports to the European Union eased 6.5 percent to 665.517 billion yen.
Imports tumbled an annual 24.7 percent versus forecasts for a decline of 20.0 percent after slipping 18.8 percent a month earlier.
Imports from all of Asia fell 23.0 percent on year to 2,556.832 billion yen, while imports from just China alone skidded 21.7 percent to 1,295.867 billion yen.
Imports from the United States tumbled an annual 15.2 percent to 588.466 billion yen, while imports from the European Union fell an annual 15.7 percent to 666.651 billion yen.
The adjusted trade surplus was 317.6 billion yen - beating expectations for 167.7 billion yen and down from 335.0 billion in June.
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