(Yicai Global) Jan. 24 -- Japanese exports to China hit a record high on an increase in shipments of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and electronic components pushed, per data Japan's Ministry of Finance published today.

China-bound exports from the island nation climbed 15.8 percent annually to JPY1.5 trillion (USD13.6 billion) last month, with growth down 9 percentage points from November.

Japanese exports rose 9.3 percent in December, the 13th consecutive month of increase. Japan's shipments to Asia jumped 9.9 percent to a record high of JPY4.1 trillion, expanding about half as quickly as they had in November.

Japan's imports rose 14.9 percent and it posted a trade surplus of JPY359 billion last month.