TOKYO - Japanese exports dropped 1.6 percent in June from a year earlier to 5,775.9 billion yen (about $73.26 billion), marking the fourth straight monthly contraction, the Finance Ministry said in report Thursday.

However, the country logged a surprise trade surplus of 70.7 billion yen with its imports climbing 9.8 percent, according to a preliminary report of the Ministry.

The surplus, first in three months, came against the market forecast for a deficit.