Japan's trade surplus plummeted 80 percent year-on-year to 2,157.5 billion yen (US$24.24 billion), said a government report on Thursday.

According to the provisional report released by the finance ministry, the world second largest economy's imports jumped 7.9 percent to 78,891.7 billion yen (US$886.42 billion) while exports shrank 3.4 percent to 81,049.2 billion yen (US$910.67 billion).

In December 2008, Japan saw 320.7 billion yen (US$3.60 billion) in red ink in trade, down for three months in a row.

The trade data, measured on a customs-cleared basis, have yet to be adjusted for seasonal factors.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2009)