The current account surplus grew 15.1 percent in November from a year earlier to 1.418 trillion yen for the third straight monthly increase, due to brisk exports to the United States and China, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

The balance of trade in goods and services posted a surplus of 543.7 billion yen, up 11.4 percent for the first expansion in 11 months, the ministry said in a preliminary report.

The surplus in merchandise trade rose 0.3 percent to 703.6 billion yen, marking the first growth in 13 months.