Sept exports climb 4.3 yryr as car shipments surge
Imports drop 16.3 yryr, baseline effects of energy bill wane
Trade balance swings to surplus for first time in 3 months

TOKYO, Oct 19 Reuters Japan39;s exports hit a record level in September, climbing for the first time in three months as automakers revved up shipments to the U.S. and Europe, unshackled from a global chip shortage that had held them back a year earlier.

Export growth was 4.3, outperforming economists39; expectations of a 3.1 increase and a 0.8 fall in August. The value of shipments clocked in at 9.2 trillion yen 61 billion, a 2 increase over the previous record logged in October last year.

Exports turned out solid overall despite concerns about the global economic slowdown, said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

At the same time, imports slumped a somewhat largerthanexpected 16.3 as the baseline effects of higher energy bills resulting from Russia39;s invasion of Ukraine have run their course.

With both the growth in exports and the drop in imports exceeding predictions, Japan booked its first trade surplus in three months of 62.4 billion yen, confounding expectations for a 425 billion yen deficit.

However, the worsening conflict in the Middle East and slower growth in China cloud the outlook for Japan, the world39;s thirdbiggest economy.

You cannot be optimistic given that elevated interest rates are cooling demand in the West and considering the impact of…