Japan’s export engine finally revved back to life in September, rising 4.2 percent year-on-year after four straight months of decline, helped by strong demand from Asia and a jump in semiconductor shipments. The rebound offers incoming Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi an early dose of economic optimism as she inherits an economy still recovering from trade frictions and political upheaval.

Asia offsets US slump

Fresh data from the Ministry of Finance, as cited by CNBC, showed shipments to Asia climbing 9.2 percent year-on-year, led by a 5.8 percent rise to mainland China, Japan’s largest trading partner.

By contrast, exports to the United States fell 13.3 percent, dragged down by a steep 24 percent drop in automobile shipments as U.S. tariffs continued to pinch.

Tokyo’s partial trade deal

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