Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama at a meeting of the Ministerial Council at the Prime Minister's Office, Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010.

Japan today reported the biggest jump in exports in 30 years propelled by strong Asian demand.

The value of exports jumped 40.9% in February from a year earlier - - the fastest rate of advance since February 1980, according to the Ministry of Finance. The growth in shipments was led by the biggest advance in exports to China since 1985, while shipments to the US increased for the first time in more than two years. The headline improvement in exports was partly due to a positive year-on-year comparison as in January 2009; shipments had plunged 45.7% as world trade tumbled in the aftermath of the collapse of the US investment bank, Lehman Brothers, in September 2008.

Exports to Asia surged 68.1% in January from a year earlier and shipments to China rocketed 79.9%.

Shipments to the US climbed 24.2% while exports to Europe rose 11.1%.

Imports advanced 8.6% -- the first rise since October 2008.

Shipments of motor vehicles shot up 342.8% in January while the value of auto parts sales rose 156.6%.

Embattled Toyota Motor, the world's biggest carmaker, has recalled 8 million vehicles because of accelerator and brake problems and last month saw its US sales dip 16% to a 10-year low in January.

Akio Toyoda, grandson of the company’s founder, testifies on Wednesday in Washington DC, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In his prepared testimony, released on Tuesday, Toyoda who is 53, said he took personal responsibility for the situation. In the past, he said, the company’s priorities were safety and quality, and sales came last.

Japan reported a trade surplus of ¥85.2bn last month.