Japan March exports +5.9 pct year/year -MOF

TOKYO, April 19 (Reuters) - Japan's exports rose a stronger-than-expected
5.9 percent in March from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on
Thursday, resulting in a smaller than expected trade deficit. 	
    The rise in exports beat the median forecast of a flat reading in a Reuters
poll and followed a 2.7 percent drop in February. But the pickup was likely
exaggerated by a dip a year earlier caused by the devastating March earthquake.	
    Exports to Asia, which account for more than half of Japan's total exports,
climbed 0.5 percent from a year earlier	
    The trade balance came to a deficit of 82.6 billion yen ($1 billion) against
a projected deficit of 220 billion yen and following a surplus of 29.3 billion
yen in February. 	
    Following is a table of the main figures. Economists' median forecasts are
in parentheses:
 	
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                   MARCH             YEAR AGO     PCT CHANGE
 Overall balance  -82,554 (-220,000)  +170,930         n/a
 Exports        6,204,223            5,858,517      +5.9   (0.0)
 Imports        6,286,777            5,687,587      +10.5 (+6.5)
 	
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 To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of Finance at: