TOKYO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japan's trade deficit came to 2.65 trillion yen (about 16.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, with the balance remaining in the red for the fifth consecutive year, government data showed Thursday.

Total exports rose 3.1 percent from the year before to 110.45 trillion yen, despite a decline in U.S.-bound shipments for the first time in five years amid higher tariffs, while imports increased 0.3 percent to 113.10 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said.

Japan's trade surplus with the United States in 2025 shrank 12.6 percent from a year earlier to 7.52 trillion yen, as exports dropped 4.1 percent to 20.41 trillion yen and imports grew 1.6 percent to 12.89 trillion yen, ministry data showed.

For December alone, Japan logged a trade surplus of 105.69 billion yen, with exports climbing 5.1 percent to 10.41 trillion yen and imports growing 5.3 percent to 10.31 trillion yen. ■