Japan's exports expanded for the 11th straight month in October, up by 7.8 percent year-on-year to 5,723.6 billion yen (68.95 billion U.S. dollars), the finance ministry said Thursday.

The rate of exports growth, however, continued to slow in the reporting month, hitting a new low in 11 months against the backdrop of global economic slowdown, it said.

Trade surplus rose 2.7 percent to 821.9 billion yen (9.89 billion dollars) with imports expanding 8.7 percent to 4,901.7 billion yen (59.05 billion dollars).

Exports to countries in the European Union dropped 1.9 percent to 655.3 billion yen (7.89 billion dollars), marking the first fall in 11 months.

The figures are measured on a customs-cleared basis before adjustments for seasonal factors.