Japan's exports rose 19.3% year-on-year in August, slowing from July's 23.2% but exceeding economists' median forecast of 18.4%, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday. Imports surged 28% year-on-year, pushing the unadjusted trade deficit to 1.1 trillion yen from a revised 638.3 billion yen in July. Exports of electronic components, including semiconductors, soared 52% year-on-year, with growth in exports to the U.S. and China outpacing the overall rate. However, high oil prices driving up energy import costs were the main reason for the widening trade deficit. Atsushi Takeda, chief economist at Itochu Research Institute, noted that the trade deficit will continue to expand as crude oil prices break above $100 per barrel.