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In addition to weak demand from emerging
nations, the benefit of a weak yen for exports appeared to have
run its course.
The Reuters poll of 28 economists forecast exports to show a 1.2
percent fall in the year to May, which would be the first
decline since a 2.9 percent fall in February last year.
In April, Japan's exports rose 5.1 percent from a year earlier.
The poll forecast a 1.7 percent increase in imports in May,
largely led by higher demand for liquid natural gas.
The trade deficit was forecast at 1.17 trillion yen. It would be
23rd straight monthly deficit.
"Shipments to Europe are expected to stay solid, but those to
Asia will probably continue to be stagnant. In addition, exports
to the U.S. are slow," Takeshi Minami, chief economist at
Norinchukin Research Institute, said.
Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research
Institute Said he expected the trade deficit to shrink over the
summer, but a return to surplus was some way off.
"We expect the nation's exports will pick up around
July-September, led by recovering demand from the U.S.," Shinke
said.
"But if exports continue to stay tepid, this could raise a
possibility that the economic recovery may undershoot."
Japan's economy grew in the first quarter at the fastest pace
since the third quarter of 2011 thanks to a surge in capital
spending and strong consumer spending.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will announce the trade data on
June 18 at 8:50 a.m. (June 17 at 2350 GMT).
The Bank of Japan on Friday kept monetary policy steady and
revised up its assessment of overseas economies. BOJ officials
saw overseas headwinds receding as China's exports rebound and
as the U.S. economy recovers from a severe winter.
(Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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