TOKYO, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's current account surplus reached a record 15.82 trillion yen (about 103.3 billion U.S. dollars) for the first half of fiscal 2024 (April to September), government data showed Monday.
The figure marked a 12.3-percent increase over the same period last year, marking the largest surplus recorded for a fiscal half-year, preliminary data from the Ministry of Finance showed.
Primary income, including dividends and interest income reflecting returns on overseas investments, stood at 22.12 trillion yen, up 13.3 percent due to increased bond interest income.
While the weaker yen has contributed to strong overseas sales, the goods trade balance posted a deficit of 2.41 trillion yen, largely driven by increased purchases of computers, medical supplies, and communication equipment.
The services balance recorded a deficit of 1.97 trillion yen, though this was a 10.4-percent improvement from the previous year. Within services, the travel balance showed a record surplus of 3.1 trillion yen, marking an 80-percent increase year-on-year, which helped narrow the services deficit.
In September alone, Japan's current account surplus came in at 1.72 trillion yen. (1 yen equals 0.0065 USD) ■