Japan’s trade deficit reached $112 billion last year, up 65% on 2012, and for some that’s good news.
The deficit was driven by the weak yen and high demand for imported energy following the shutting down of the country’s nuclear generation system after the Fukushima disaster.
Energy made up much of the 15% increase in the value of imports, but exports also soared by 9.5%.
There are other signs of recovery for the Japanese economy after two decades in the doldrums. Steel and cement production in Japan hit the highest level in five years.
Some of this is going to reconstruction in the area hit by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
