TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The trade surplus in March fell to 914.9 bln yen from 1.10 trln the previous year, the Ministry of Finance said.
Total exports rose to 4.9 trln yen from 4.7 trln a year earlier, while imports rose to 4.0 trln yen from 3.6 trln.
The ministry provided details of the March trade surplus, exports to and imports from the following regions, with year-on-year comparisons:
U.S.:
Surplus - 690.1 bln yen, up 0.3 pct
Exports - 1.4 trln yen, up 4.3 pct
Imports - 742.3 bln yen, up 8.3 pct

EU:
Surplus - 333.9 bln yen, down 2.2 pct
Exports - 853.2 bln yen, up 3.6 pct
Imports - 518.2 bln yen, up 7.8 pct

Asia:
Surplus - 268.5 bln yen, down 34.2 pct
Exports - 1.9 trln yen, up 4.2 pct
Imports - 1.7 trln yen, up 14.8 pct

In the year to March 2001, Japan's trade surplus stood at 9.6 trln yen, compared with a surplus of 12.1 trln a year earlier.
Total exports in the year to March rose to 52.0 trln yen from 48.4 trln the previous year, while imports rose to 42.4 trln yen from 36.4 trln.