The Japanese trade deficit soars, reaching record levels. Japan's trade balance recorded an unprecedented deficit of 2013 billion yen (about 11.475 billion euros), up 82% year-on-year, according to the Finance Ministry's statement in 65.
The sharply rising energy costs weighed heavily on Japan's trade balance, due, on the one hand, to the depreciation of the yen and, on the other, to the closure of nuclear power plants following the Fukushima disaster.
In the month of December alone, the trade deficit stood at 1.302 billion yen, with exports up by 15,3% and exports up by 24,7%.
