Japan August exports drop 8.2% year/year - MOF

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's exports fell 8.2% in August from a year earlier, down for a ninth straight month, Ministry of Finance data showed on Wednesday.

The result compared with a 10.9% decrease forecast by economists in a Reuters poll and followed a 1.5% drop in July.

Imports sank 12.0% in the year to August, versus the median estimate of a 11.2% decline.

The trade balance came to a deficit of 136.3 billion yen ($1.26 billion), against the median estimate of a 355.9 billion yen deficit.

To view the full tables, go to the MOF website at:

http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink in Tokyo; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)