Even within the slump,
Japan's trade surplus (on a customs-clearance basis) remains positive.
The trade surplus with the United States remains high compared with
other nations.
Japan's trade surplus in 2001 decreased by 38.7% from the previous
year, the second biggest drop after the 54.8% decline of 1970. Even
the monetary value hit a low, the first in 18 years. This was the
result of a decrease in exports reflecting the collapse of the global
economy and a record high import rate.
Trade Surplus Trend (Customs-Clearance Basis)
