Japan posted its first trade deficit in 31 years in 2011 due largely to the impact of the March earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear plant accident.

The Finance Ministry said in its preliminary report on Wednesday that Japan marked a trade deficit of 2.5 trillion yen, or 32.1 billion dollars last year.

Imports rose 12 percent and exports fell by 2.7 percent.

The deficit is attributed in part to a drop in exports of automobiles and other products due to supply chain disruptions caused by the March disaster.

The nuclear accident also led to a jump in imports of liquefied natural gas used by thermal power plants.

Exports also declined because of the yen's strength against other currencies and a slump in the global economy stemming from the euro zone credit crisis.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120125_13.html

Image credit: http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00258/ARV_JAPAN_TRADE_258941f.jpg