JAPAN'S exports expanded for a sixth straight month in May as brisk global demand for cars and high-tech products helped shore up a recovery in the world's second-largest economy.

The finance ministry said yesterday exports rose 32.1 percent from a year earlier to 5.3 trillion yen (US$59 billion), marking the sixth month of year-on-year increase.

Growth in exports is vital to Japan's economy as exports alone account for 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.

"Overseas demand for Japanese goods remains steady in line with a recovery in the global economy," said Hideki Matsumura, an economist at Japan Research Institute.

"Strong global demand for Japanese cars and high-tech goods such as computers and flat-panel TVs shows the global economy has hit the bottom," he said.

Robust global demand, particularly in Asia, is supporting growth in Japanese exports and fueling an economic recovery. Japan recently upgraded its growth forecast to 2.6 percent in the current fiscal year thanks to exports.

Among key regions, Japan's exports to Asia jumped 34.4 percent in May. Japan's exports to China also rose 25.3 percent.