Japan's exports in the first half of 2021 rose 23.2% from a year earlier, marking the largest year-on-year growth in 11 years and reflecting the global economic recovery from the slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed Wednesday.
The increase was the largest on a half-year basis since the 37.9% jump logged in the first half of 2010, when the world economy was rebounding from the global financial crisis, according to a preliminary report by the Finance Ministry.
Exports in the January to June period expanded to ¥39.86 trillion ($363 billion), which surpassed the pre-pandemic level of ¥38.25 trillion logged in the first half of 2019 when Japan's shipments were dented by trade conflicts between Washington and Beijing.