Japan in August saw its first trade deficit since January as surging oil prices boosted imports and export growth slowed, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

The nation's trade deficit ran 324 billion yen (3.06 billion dollars), the ministry said.

Excluding January, when exports tend to slow because of business holidays during New Year's celebrations, Japan last logged a trade deficit in November 1982.

Exports inched up 0.3 per cent from August 2007 to 7.06 trillion yen after Japan logged an 8.1-per-cent rise the month before. Imports rose 17.3 per cent to 7.38 trillion yen.

A month before, Japan had logged a trade surplus, but it shrank for the fifth month in a row, falling 86.6 per cent to 91.1 billion yen as imports hit a record, thanks to high fuel prices.

Japan's trade surplus with the United States in August plunged 48.2 per cent to 371.1 billion yen.

Exports to the United States dropped 21.8 per cent to 1.09 trillion yen, and imports were up 6.4 per cent to 716.1 billion yen.

Japan's trade surplus with the rest of Asia jumped 18.1 per cent to 995.5 billion yen.

Exports to the region grew 6.7 per cent to 3.71 trillion yen, and imports rose 3 per cent to 2.72 trillion yen.

Japan's trade surplus with China was 10.8 billion yen.

Exports to mainland China rose 8.8 per cent to 1.22 trillion yen while imports declined 4.8 per cent to 1.21 trillion yen. In July, China overtook the United States as Japan's largest export market.

Japan's trade surplus with the European Union expanded 6.2 per cent to 332.7 billion yen.

Exports there dipped 3.5 per cent to 951.2 billion yen, and imports dropped 8.1 per cent to 618.4 billion yen.

The trade data are measured on a customs-cleared basis before adjustments for seasonal factors.