Japan's trade with China is likely to shrink for the first time in 11 years in 2009 due to the ongoing global financial crisis, estimated the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on Thursday.

In 2008, the Japan-China trade grew by 12.5 percent year-on-year to US$266.40 billion, hitting an all-time high for ten years in a row, said the government-affiliated organization for promotion of Japan's external trade.

The JETRO predicted a drop in bilateral trade in 2009 as China's export-oriented sector was hard hit amid the global economic meltdown.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2009)