Japan's record run of trade deficits set to continue

Even with the March surplus reported on Wednesday, Japan's record run of annual trade deficits is poised to continue this year, a survey by Bloomberg shows.

Imports will exceed exports in 2015, according to 8 of 10 economists polled after the monthly data. The median estimate was for a 3.2 trillion yen ($26.8 billion) shortfall in 2015.

The shuttering of all Japan's nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster forced the nation to import more fossil fuels, causing 4 years of deficits, which hit a record 12.8 trillion yen last year. While exports are benefiting from the weaker yen, they have yet to recover to their 2008 peak, and the currency's drop makes imports more expensive.