Helena Izotova
Japan’s running account surplus declined down to the 15-year low in 2011 as the work of its nuclear facilities was suspended after the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. Another reason was higher import of energy carriers.
Last year the country’s export declined by 1.9% on lower external demand and stronger yen. At the same time, Japan’s import increased by 15%.
These data will probably make the Japanese government look for ways of reducing the cost of imported energy carriers, when only 3 out of 54 Japanese nuclear facilities are still functioning.
Japan’s balance-of-trade surplus was as equal to 304B yen in December 2011.
Japan may need up to 2.4 trillion yen in order to make up for the degenerating nuclear capacities.
Helena Izotova
