Japan's trade deficit narrowed in April as costs for energy imports fell.
The Finance Ministry says imports exceeded exports by more than 430 billion yen, or about 3 billion dollars. That's about half as much as the amount a year earlier. The monthly deficit was the 21st in a row for Japan.
Exports rose 2.6 percent in yen terms from a year earlier. Auto shipments to the US gained as an easing shortage of semiconductors helped production.
Imports fell by 2.3 percent as yen-denominated crude oil costs dropped 16.7 percent.