Japan's exports up 32.1 % on year in May

    TOKYO, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan's exports rose in May from a year earlier, the Ministry¹ of Finance (MOF) said in a preliminary（初级） report on Thursday.
    The 32.1 percent increase in the recording² month marks the sixth successive（连续的） month of increase, the ministry said.
    Economists³ said growing demand for Japanese goods from other Asian countries has boosted industrial output as the nation stages an export-led economic recovery.
    Exports to Asia, which account for（对..负责任） more than half of Japan's total exports, rose 34.4 percent from a year earlier, while shipments to the European Union increased 17.4 percent, according to the MOF.
    China, however, remained Japan's top export market, rising 25.3 percent on year in the recording month, with a trade deficit⁴ of 58. 3 billion yen⁵ (649.05 million U.S. dollars) for the month.
    The ministry said that exports to the U.S. rose 17.7 percent with Japan's surplus with the world's largest economy standing⁶ at 239.2 billion yen (2.66 billion U.S. dollars).
    Although the increase of exports on year in May was below economists' median forecast for a 36.9 percent rise, imports were up 33.4 percent leading to a 324.2 billion yen (3.6 billion U.S. dollar) trade surplus, up 15.2 percent from a year earlier, the report said.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)
 

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

5 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。