Kuwait's April trade surplus with Japan down 34 pct.

TOKYO, May 21 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's trade surplus with Japan narrowed 34.0 percent from a year earlier to JPY 49.7 billion (USD 324 million) in April, down for the third straight month due to slow exports, government data showed Wednesday.
However, Kuwait stayed in black ink with Japan for 17 years and three months, as exports still outpaced imports in value, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report.
Overall exports from Kuwait to Japan shrank 21.7 percent year-on-year to JPY 74.0 billion (USD 493 million), down for the third month in a row. Imports from Japan grew 26.9 percent to JPY 24.3 billion (USD 157 million), expanding for the fifth consecutive month.
Middle East's trade surplus with Japan also fell 8.9 percent to JPY 771.4 billion (USD 5.3 billion) last month, with Japan-bound exports from the region declining 7.7 percent from a year earlier. Crude oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other natural resources, which accounted for 94.8 percent of the region's total exports to Japan, slid 9.2 percent.
The region's overall imports from Japan shrank 4.7 percent on weak demand for manufactured goods.
Japan's global trade balance returned to deficit in April with JPY 115.9 billion (USD 783 million), the first red ink in three months. Exports gained 2.0 percent from the year before, thanks to robust shipments of semiconductor-making equipment chips, food and pharmaceutical products, but car sales to the US slid in value terms. Imports shed 2.2 percent on lower bills for coal, crude oil and aircraft. China remained Japan's biggest trade partner, followed by the US.
The trade data are measured on a customs-cleared basis before adjustment for seasonal factors. (end) mk.gta