The nation's trade surplus in fiscal 2000 fell 20.6 percent from the previous 12 months to 9.61 trillion yen, marking the second consecutive year of decline, the Finance Ministry said Thursday in a preliminary report.

But while the overall surplus continued to shrink, that with the United States increased for the fourth year on a row, marking a 2.3 percent rise to 7.54 trillion yen.

The decline in the overall trade surplus was mainly due to higher oil prices during the 12 months beginning with April 2000. More expensive oil translates into a higher value for imports, a ministry official said.