Japan’s exports to the United States rose for the fourth straight month in April on a year-on-year basis, surging 14.8 percent to 1.101 trillion yen ($10.69 billion), according to preliminary figures released by the Finance Ministry.
The Japanese economy grew 0.9 percent in the January-March quarter from the preceding quarter, or at an annualized pace of 3.5 percent, in real terms, the Cabinet Office said in a preliminary report on May 16.
Japan’s Hitachi Transport System Ltd. acquired a stake of about 87 percent in U.S. logistics firm James J. Boyle & Co. as part of efforts to further expand its global operations.
Major Japanese international freight forwarder Kintetsu World Express Inc. said on May 9 that its net profit declined 4.3 percent in fiscal 2012, which ended on March 31, from a year earlier to 9.134 billion yen ($92.26 million) on a consolidated basis.
Nippon Express Co., Japan’s largest international freight forwarder, said on May 8 that its net profit sank 11.6 percent year-over-year in fiscal 2012, which ended on March 31, to 23.831 billion yen ($240.72 million) on a consolidated basis.
The number of foreign trade containers handled by the Port of Kobe in western Japan fell 1.3 percent in 2012 from a year earlier to about 2.071 million 20-foot equivalent unit, according to preliminary figures released by the Kobe municipal government.
Lufthansa Cargo boosted operating profit by 35 percent in the traditionally weak first quarter and said it expects full year earnings to better its 2012 result as it continues to cull capacity in line with weak global demand.
Japan’s trade volume increased in March 2013, showing both imports and exports up when compared to the previous month and year, according to Japan’s Ministry of Finance.