Japanese exports rose in February, with declining demand from the US more than offset by shipments to China, other emerging economies and to Europe.

Japan’s overall exports last month rose 8.7 per cent from a year earlier, the fastest pace of growth since November. Exports to China gained 14.9 per cent and those to the European Union rose 7.2 per cent. Exports to the Middle East rose 14.6 per cent. To the US, Japan’s second-largest trading partner, exports dropped 6 per cent.