Japan export volume falls in April-September despite weak yen

TOKYO — Japan's exports fell in the April-September half of the year as an economic slowdown in China and empty car demand in the United States ate into the benefits of a soft yen.

The country posted a trade deficit of 3.11 trillion yen ($20.6 billion) for the April-September period, marking a seventh fiscal half in the red, official goods trade data showed on Thursday. The deficit increased by 14.4% compared to last year.