Dogged by a global economic slump that started early last year, Japan's merchandise trade surplus in 2001 plunged 38.3 percent from the previous year to 6.61 trillion yen, marking the biggest percentage fall in 31 years, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

The fall also reflected an increase in imports from China, according to the ministry's preliminary report.

The 38.3 percent slide marks the third consecutive yearly decline and the biggest fall since a 54.8 percent drop was registered in 1970.