Japan posted a 1.45-trillion-yen (14.1-billion-dollar) trade deficit in March, the 21st straight month of trade shortfall, due mainly to a weaker yen and growing fossil-fuel imports, dpa cited the government as saying Monday. The figure compared with an average prediction of 1.08 trillion yen by economists surveyed by financial news agency Bloomberg. Japan's exports edged up 1.8 per cent from a year earlier to 6.38 trillion yen while imports jumped 18.1 per cent to 7.83 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report. Japan imported more petroleum and liquefied natural gas amid a weaker yen in March, the ministry said. The depreciation of the currency and growing demand for fossil fuels following the 2011 nuclear accident at the Fukushima plant have driven up import costs.
