Ammon News - Japan's current account surplus expanded 54.5 percent from a year earlier to 3.35 trillion yen ($21.3 billion) in November, marking the highest level for the month, as the goods trade balance shifted back to positive territory, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

The current account balance, one of the widest gauges of international trade, remained in the black for the 22nd consecutive month, the ministry said in a preliminary report.

Japan's goods trade recorded a surplus of 97.9 billion yen, reversing a deficit of 683.3 billion yen in the previous year, as exports rose 2.8 percent to 8.91 trillion yen, driven by strong demand for chip-making equipment and nonferrous metals.

Imports, meanwhile, decreased 5.7 percent to 8.81 trillion yen, as the value of crude oil and coal purchases declined amid falling energy prices.

Among other key components, primary income, including dividends and interest earnings from overseas investments, stood at 3.44 trillion yen, up 13.0 percent, buoyed by higher returns from offshore subsidiaries in the chemical and food sectors. kyodo news