Kuwait's trade surplus with Japan narrowed 47.1% in February to JPY 38.7 billion ($319 million) from a year earlier, shrinking for the fourth month as exports declined by nearly 40%, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.

However, Kuwait maintained black ink with Japan for the 85th consecutive month, the ministry said in a preliminary report ,said the state-run news agency KUNA.

Kuwaiti overall exports to Japan plunged 38.5% year-on-year to JPY 56.1 billion ($462 million) for the fourth straight monthly fall, while imports from Japan decreased 4.0% to JPY 17.4 billion ($144 million), down for the first time since May.