Japan's trade surplus in January grew almost fivefold from a year earlier as exports to China and other Asian economies expanded while imports from the United States dropped due to the ban on U.S. beef.

The merchandise trade surplus -- exports minus imports -- came to 507.1 billion yen, compared with 102.8 billion yen in January last year, marking the seventh consecutive monthly rise, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

"Overall exports usually decline in January because Japanese exporters take time off for the New Year's holidays," a ministry official said. "But this year, exports to Asia in particular kept up a brisk pace."