Kuwait's trade surplus with Japan expanded by 46.1 per cent from a year earlier to 25.6 billion yen ($228 million) in July, up for the sixth month in a row, thanks to brisk exports, said state news agency Wam citing data from Japanese Finance Ministry.

Kuwait’s overall exports to Japan grew 20.4 per cent year-on-year to 38.8 billion yen ($346 million) for the sixth consecutive month of expansion, the ministry said in a preliminary report.

Imports from Japan fell 10.2 per cent to yen13.2 billion ($118 million), down for the first time in two months. As a result, Kuwait maintained monthly black ink with Japan for nine years and five months, the report added.

However, the Middle East's trade surplus with Japan increased 9.6 per cent to yen350.5 billion ($3.1 billion) last month, with Japan-bound exports from the region rising 1.4 per cent from a year earlier.

Crude oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas, LNG, and other natural resources, which accounted for 93.8 percent of the region's total exports to Japan, edged up 0.5 percent, according to Wam report.

The region's overall imports from Japan declined 10.4 per cent, due to weaker demand for vehicles, steel and machinery, it added.