TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japan's exports plunged a record 35.0 percent in December from a year earlier, government data showed on Thursday, as the spreading global recession batters overseas demand for Japanese goods.
Japan logged a trade deficit of 320.7 billion yen in December, the Ministry of Finance data showed, posting a deficit for the third straight month.
That compared with economists' median forecast of a 278.0 billion yen deficit.
For 2008, Japan's trade surplus fell 80.0 percent. That was the fastest pace of decline since 1981 when the country began posting surpluses on a regular basis.
Following is a table of the main figures. Economists' median forecasts are in parentheses: ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Unadjusted, mln yen, y/y)
DEC YEAR AGO PCT CHANGE Trade balance -320,662 (-278,000) 866,945 -- ( -- )
Exports 4,833,252 7,433,968 -35.0 (-30.1)
Imports 5,153,914 6,567,023 -21.5 (-16.5) ---------------------------------------------------------------- To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of Finance -- http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/latest/index_e.htm (Reporting by Yuzo Saeki; Editing by Chris Gallagher)