Japan exports rise 7.2% year/year in January

TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Japanese exports rose 7.2% year-on-year in January, up for a fourth straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday.

The result compared with a 7.9% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Imports grew 16.7% in January from a year earlier, versus a 9.7% increase expected by economists.

As a result, the trade balance stood at a deficit of 2.759 trillion yen compared with the forecast of a deficit of 2.1 trillion yen.

($1 = 151.9300 yen)