Japan posted a trade surplus of ¥670.17 billion in September, up 37.7% from the same month in 2016, provisional data from the Ministry of Finance showed Oct. 19.

Exports grew 14.1% year over year in September, after rising 18.1% in August. This was the third straight month that Japanese exports grew by double digits as a recovering global demand boosted exports, Bloomberg News said.

Exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, grew 29.3% from a year earlier. Shipments to the U.S. increased 11.1%, while those to the EU rose 11.5%.

Imports increased 12% year over year, after a 15.2% rise in August.

As of Oct. 18, US$1 was equivalent to ¥112.98.