TOKYO Japan's exports in June rose 1.5% from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.
The rise was less than a 2.2% gain expected by 15 economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 0.6% rise in May.
Imports fell 12.9% year-on-year in June, versus the median estimate for an 11.3% decrease.
The trade balance came to a surplus of 43 billion yen ($307.96 million), versus the median estimate for a 46.7 billion yen deficit. It was the first time in 23 months the trade balance has recorded a surplus.
($1 = 139.6300 yen)
(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
