TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The trade surplus in March rose to 1.27 trln yen from 907.9 bln yen a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance said. Total exports fell to 4.77 trln yen from 4.92 trln, while imports fell to 3.50 trln from 4.01 trln.
Earlier, private-sector economists forecast a March trade surplus of between 777.8 bln yen and 1.09 trln, with the consensus for a 947.1 bln yen surplus.
The ministry provided details of the surplus, exports to and imports from the following regions, with year-on-year comparisons:

US:
Surplus - 728.5 bln yen, up 6.1 pct
Exports - 1.39 trln yen, down 2.8 pct
Imports - 662.8 bln yen, down 10.9 pct

EU:
Surplus - 243.2 bln yen, down 27.0 pct
Exports - 715.1 trln yen, down 16.1 pct
Imports - 471.9 bln yen, down 9.1 pct

Asia:
Surplus - 455.4 bln yen, up 71.1 pct
Exports - 1.97 trln yen, up 0.2 pct
Imports - 1.51 trln yen, down 11.0 pct

The trade surplus in the year to March 2002 fell to 7.1 trln yen from 9.6 trln yen the year before, the ministry said.
Total exports fell to 48.6 trln yen from 52.0 trln last year, while imports fell to 41.5 trln from 42.4 trln.