The current account surplus in November rose 21.5 percent from the previous year to 1.756 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday, reflecting brisk demand for Japanese exports.
The surplus in the current account, the widest gauge of Japan's trade with the rest of the world, marked its fifth straight monthly rise, following a 5.2 percent increase in October, the ministry said in a preliminary report.
The surplus in goods and services trade rose 69.0 percent to 963.2 billion yen. It logged a 36.3 percent drop in October. The surplus in merchandise trade surged 48.3 percent to 1.032 trillion yen after registering a 18.9 percent decrease the previous month.
Exports, led by autos, rose 11.8 percent to 6.282 trillion yen. Imports increased 6.7 percent to 5.25 trillion yen.
Imports of nonferrous metals rose 54.9 percent, but crude oil imports dropped 6.6 percent amid a downtrend in crude oil prices.
The income surplus, the net income from Japanese investments overseas, decreased 6.6 percent to 867.5 billion yen, posting the first drop in 28 months.
The merchandise trade surplus exceeded that of income surplus for the first time in five months.