Japan's exports declined 2.2 percent in March from a year earlier to 5.87 trillion yen (71 billion U.S. dollars), marking the first contraction in 16 months, the government said Wednesday.

The fall was due largely to the impact from last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami, which destroyed many factories in northeastern Japan, according to the finance ministry.

Major manufacturers including Toyota Motor Corp. to temporarily suspend its output at home factories following the twin disasters.

On the other hand, Japan's imports climbed 11.9 percent to 5.67 trillion yen (69 billion U.S. dollars) last month, the ministry said.