TOKYO - Japan on Wednesday posted a trade surplus for the ninth straight month in October, as the world's number two economy gradually emerges from deep stagnation, thanks to recovery in the rest of Asia.

The latest trade surplus came to 807.1 billion yen (9.1 billion dollars), a sharp rebound from a trade deficit of 75 billion yen registered a year ago, the finance ministry said.

But the nation's trade activities remained weak with exports in October falling 23.2 percent to 5.31 trillion yen from a year ago, led by shrinking exports of vehicles and steel, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, imports tumbled 35.6 percent to 4.50 trillion yen, weighed on by fewer energy imports, such as crude oil and liquid natural gas, the ministry said.

Japan's trade surplus with Asia rose 82.3 percent to 827.0 billion yen, with exports falling 15.0 percent while imports fell 30.0 percent.

Against China, Japan logged its fourth straight monthly trade deficit of 26.2 billion yen.

Japanese exports to China fell 14.3 percent to 993.4 billion yen, although exports of auto parts rose 32.1 percent.

Chinese imports to Japan dropped 26.6 percent at 1.02 trillion yen.

Meanwhile, Japanese trade surplus with the United States marked 26 straight months of decline, falling 27.7 percent in October to 369.6 billion yen.

Against the EU region, Japanese trade surplus in October fell 40.8 percent to 210.8 billion yen, falling for 14th straight month.