Meanwhile, imports from China to Japan hiked 4.2% to 1,834,853 tons, growing from a year earlier for two straight months. On a yen scale, on the other hand, they fell 0.4% to \1 trillion, which was the first year-on-year decline in two months.

According to indices unveiled by Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd., the freight rate for cargo from Yokohama to Shanghai went up 8.8% to $370 per TEU, climbing year on year for the 12th straight month. That for freight from Shanghai to Yokohama went up very minutely to $670 per TEU, which was an improvement from a year earlier for four months in a row.