Japan’s exports climbed by 15.1 per cent to a record high for May, but brisk imports and sluggish shipments to the US meant the trade surplus rose a less-than-expected 9.3 per cent from a year earlier.

Exports rose to Y6,565bn ($53.1bn, €40bn, £27.5bn), the 42nd consecut­ive monthly increase, ac­cord­ing to preliminary fin­ance ministry figures released on Thursday. But imports rose by an even faster 15.5 per cent to a record Y6,176bn. Economists say the heftier import bill largely reflects higher prices resulting from a weaker yen.