New Delhi, June 17 -- Japan witnessed a trade deficit of around USD 2.34 billion (378.6 billion yen) in May, which is its first deficit in four months, according to the government data released on Wednesday.

The deficit in May was 42.8 per cent lower compared with the same month last year.

As per the report, Japan's crude oil imports fell sharply, dropping more than 57 per cent in volume amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, exports rose 17.0 per cent to 9.51 trillion yen on robust demand for semiconductor and other electronic parts as well as motor vehicles.

On the other hand, imports surged 12.5 per cent from a year earlier to 9.89 trillion yen, on purchases of communication devices, the Finance Ministry said in the repor...