Japan February exports fall 1.0% year-on-year(Update)

The fall compares with a 4.3% drop expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 2.6% fall in January.

TOKYO: Japan's exports slipped for a 15th straight month in February as U.S. and China-bound shipments declined, suggesting a cooling of business activity in the world's third-largest economy due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Imports from China fell at their fastest pace since 1986 after the virus, which has killed more than 7,000 people worldwide, led to a widespread shutdown of production in the region's largest economy.