Exports in June rose 27.7 percent from a year earlier to ¥5.866 trillion, marking the seventh straight month of increase, although the rate of growth narrowed, Finance Ministry data showed Monday.

Exports for the first half of 2010 came to ¥33.097 trillion, up 37.9 percent from a year earlier, increasing for the first time in four half-year periods, according to the ministry's preliminary report.

Although exports continued to grow, a ministry official warned that the pace of expansion could be slowing down, citing the month's seasonally adjusted data, which declined for the second straight month.