Japan's trade deficit reached 2. 81 trillion yen ($17. 8 billion) for the first fiscal half, according to government data released Wednesday, as the war in Iran sent oil import prices soaring.

The Finance Ministry's preliminary data showed that Japan's exports for the April-September period grew 18. 4% from the same period the previous year to 63. 5 trillion yen, while imports soared to 66. 3 trillion yen, up 20. 4% year-over-year.

Both were record highs for Japan.