TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan logged its first current account deficit in 13 years in January of 172.8 billion yen (1.8 billion U.S. dollars), the Finance Ministry data showed Monday.

    It was the first current account deficit since January 1996, the government said.

    Exports dived 46.3 percent from a year earlier to 3.282 trillion yen (33.8 billion U.S. dollars), while imports tumbled 31.7 percent to 4.127 trillion yen (42.54 billion dollars), the ministry said.

    The balance of trade in goods and services posted a deficit of 1,100.2 billion yen (11.3 billion U.S. dollars), while the deficit in merchandise trade totaled 844.4 billion yen (8.7 billion U.S. dollars).