Japan’s Exports Fall a More-Than-Expected 2.2% After Quake

Japan’s exports fell more than economists expected in March as shipments of automobiles tumbled, declines analysts said may worsen as companies struggle to restore facilities and output in the wake of a record earthquake.

Overseas shipments declined 2.2 percent from a year earlier, the first drop since November 2009, the Finance Ministry said in Tokyo today. The median estimate of 19 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for a 1.1 percent drop.