TOKYO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Japan's exports rose 7.8 percent in October from a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday, slowing for an eighth straight month as exporters grapple with a strong yen and slowing global demand.
The rise was slower than the 10.7 percent gain expected by economists and followed a 14.3 percent increase in September. Exports totalled 5.7 trillion yen ($68.5 billion).
Shipments to China and the United States, the two major export destinations for Japanese goods, rose 17.5 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively.
Imports rose 8.7 percent to 4.9 trillion yen against a forecast of an 11.2 percent increase. That brought the trade balance to a surplus of 821.9 billion yen, up 2.7 percent from a year earlier.
Following is a table of the main figures. Economists' median forecasts are in parentheses: -------------------------------------------------------------- (Unadjusted, mln yen, y/y)
OCTOBER YEAR AGO PCT CHANGE Overall balance +821,897 (870,000) 800,060 +2.7 Exports 5,723,565 5,308,319 +7.8 (+10.7) Imports 4,901,668 4,508,259 +8.7 (+11.2) -------------------------------------------------------------- To view full tables, go to the MOF website: http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Chris Gallagher) ($1=83.51 Yen)