Japan posted a record trade deficit of $27.8 billion dollars in January.

A seventy percent increase over January 2013, this is first time the deficit topped two trillion yen. Japan has run deficits for 19 consecutive months.

Exports were up nine-point-five percent overall, helped by increasing auto exports to the US, but limited by the Chinese New Year holidays.

Imports went up twenty-five percent, also a record high.

With nuclear reactors were taken offline in response to the 2011 earthquake, Japan is more dependent on imported crude and natural gas power. The weaker yen makes Japanese exports more competitive, but increases the price of imported fuel.