TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's exports rose 7.6 percent in July from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Wednesday, in a sign overseas demand is holding steady.
The rise was more than the 5.5 percent annual increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 9.5 percent year-on-year rise in June.
Imports fell 3.2 percent year-on-year in July versus the median estimate for a 7.9 percent annual decrease.
The trade balance came to a deficit of 268.1 billion yen ($2.16 billion), versus the median estimate for a 56.7 billion yen deficit.
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(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)
