Japan's trade surplus expanded 37 percent in 2007 from the previous year to ¥10.8 trillion, marking the first growth in three years, the Finance Ministry said Thursday in a preliminary report.
The expansion was based on solid export growth to Asia, Europe and oil exporting countries.
"Exports to China, the European Union and oil-producing nations offset the decline in exports to the United States," a government official said at a briefing.