Japanese exports rose 23.2% year-on-year in July, up for an 11th straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Thursday.
The result compared with a 19.9% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.
Imports grew 27.8% in July from a year earlier, versus a 26.5% increase expected by economists.
As a result, the trade balance stood at a deficit of 634.5 billion yen ($4.01 billion), compared with the forecast of a deficit of 680 billion yen.
($1 = 158.2500 yen)
