Japan reported its first annual trade deficit since 1980 as it imported expensive energy to offset shortfalls caused by the devastating tsunami and manufacturers shifted production overseas to avoid the damage inflicted by the strong yen.

Japan’s current account surplus in July fell 19.4% from a year earlier as exports tumbled amid a slowing recovery in the global economy, the finance ministry said today.

Japanese exports plunged a record 26.7% in November, the Ministry of Finance said today.