Tokyo, July 23 (BridgeNews) - Japan's trade surplus in June fell 36.1% from a year earlier to 761.7 billion yen, the Ministry of Finance announced on Monday. The June surplus was above private economists' average expectation of 757 billion. The surplus declined for the 12th straight month, the MOF said.
Exports fell 7.8% on the year in June due to ships and electronic parts such as semiconductors.
Imports rose 2.4% in June from a year earlier due to audio-visual equipment. The politically sensitive trade surplus with the U.S. decreased 8.3% on the year to 586.1 billion yen, showing falls for six straight months through June. A MOF official said increases in the surplus will be unlikely for the time being because growth in imports has been above that of exports recently. MOF also said the trade surplus for the January-June period was down 44.0% on the year, continuing drops in the surplus recorded for each half-year since January-June 1999.
The January-June surplus showed the largest drop in the currently available data starting from 1977, the official said, but he added that he is not sure whether or not the January-June drop was the largest one ever. Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted trade surplus for June stood at 651.1 billion yen, up 128.1% on the month, MOF said.

Details of trade figures follow:

Unadjusted Value change on year (%) (bln yen)

total balance 761.7p -36.1
Exports 4136.7p -7.8
Imports 3375.0p 2.4
* * *
Surplus vis-a-vis nations (- indicates deficit, in bln yen)
US 586.1p
EU 221.5p
Asia 276.0p

On volume basis (based on 100 for 1995)
Exports 112.6p
Imports 114.3p

*p=preliminary, r=revised. Volume index based on 100 for 1995.

Exports (%, change on year in yen terms)
Ordinary machinery 860.1p
Electric machinery 995.6p
Transportation vehicle 903.4p
Automobiles 593.4p

Imports (%, change on year in yen terms)
Fossil fuel 635.9p
Crude, feedstocks 355.2p
Machinery 1132.5p
*p=preliminary, r=revised.