TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan posted a trade deficit of 231.8 billion yen (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in October, down 53.6 percent from the previous year, as exports grew partly due to semiconductor shipments, government data showed Friday.

Total exports increased 3.6 percent from a year earlier to 9.77 trillion yen, marking the second straight monthly gain, while imports added 0.7 percent to 10 trillion yen, also up for the second consecutive month, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report.

Exports to the United States declined 3.1 percent from a year earlier to 1.75 trillion yen, down for the seventh consecutive month, as higher tariffs continued to weigh on car shipments. Japan's U.S.-bound car exports fell 7.5 percent in value terms. (1 U.S. dollar equals about 157.3 yen) Enditem