Japan posted a ¥63.9 billion trade deficit in October, the first deficit logged in the month of October in 28 years, as exports declined and energy import prices continued to rise, the Finance Ministry said Nov. 20.

Shipments to the United States and Europe both posted double-digit decreases from a year before due to the global financial crisis, and the yen's appreciation against the dollar and euro, the ministry said.

The global economic slowdown caused exports to the rest of Asia to decline for the first time since February 2002. Exports to the region decreased 4.0 percent from a year earlier to ¥3.392 trillion in October, with China-bound shipments down 0.9 percent to ¥1.161 trillion, the first decline since May 2005, the ministry said in a preliminary report.