１１月貿易赤字、１１７６億円　８割超縮小、輸出は過去最高―財務省

　財務省が１８日発表した１１月の貿易統計速報（通関ベース）によると、輸出額から輸入額を差し引いた貿易収支は１１７６億円の赤字だった。赤字は５カ月連続。輸出額が１１月として過去最高となった一方、原油などの輸入が減って赤字額は前年同月比８５．５％縮小した。
　輸出額は３．８％増の９兆１５２４億円と２カ月連続で増加した。米国向けを中心に自動車輸出は減少した半面、台湾向け半導体等製造装置の好調が全体を押し上げた。
　輸入額は３．８％減の９兆２７００億円と８カ月ぶりに減少に転じた。原油の輸入額は２９．７％減の７６１７億円と４カ月連続で前年同月を下回った。円建て価格が１５．４％下落するとともに、数量も２カ月ぶりに減少した。台湾からの半導体など電子部品も落ち込んだ。（2024/12/18-11:10）

Japan logged a customs-cleared trade deficit of 117.6 billion yen in November, down sharply from the year-before deficit of 813.9 billion yen, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report Wednesday.
   The country's trade balance was in the red for the fifth consecutive month. While exports hit a record high for November, imports fell, mainly due to a decline in crude oil imports, resulting in a smaller trade deficit.
   Exports increased 3.8 pct from a year before to 9,152.4 billion yen, up for the second straight month. Automobile exports fell, due chiefly to weak demand from the United States. In contrast, exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Taiwan were robust, helping to push up overall exports.
   Imports shrank 3.8 pct to 9,270 billion yen, the first decline in eight months. Crude oil imports plunged 29.7 pct to 761.7 billion yen, falling for four months in a row. Yen-denominated crude oil prices fell 15.4 pct, with the import volume marking the first drop in two months. Imports of semiconductors and other electronic components from Taiwan also fell.
   In trade with mainland China, Japan logged a deficit of 682 billion yen, against the year-before deficit of 654.5 billion yen. While refined copper exports rose, smartphone imports grew. As a result, Japan's exports and imports in trade with mainland China both hit record highs for November in terms of value.