HIGHLIGHTS-Japan Jan trade deficit biggest in two years

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TOKYO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Japanese exports rose more than expected in January from a year earlier as solid shipments to Asia and Europe cushioned softer exports to the United States, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Thursday.

But steep crude oil and natural gas prices led to the biggest trade deficit in two years.

Following are key points of the trade balance data, with details from a briefing by officials at the Ministry of Finance.

- Japan logged a trade deficit in January for the third consecutive year. A finance ministry official said Japan's trade balance in January tends to be a deficit as outward shipments slow during a long national holiday period at the beginning of the year.

- Exports rose 7.7 percent in January from a year earlier to 6.4115 trillion yen ($59.3 billion), a 50th consecutive month of increase and led by solid shipment growth to Europe and Asia.

- Exports to the United States declined 3.2 percent, declining for the fifth straight month. A finance ministry official said slow shipments of motorcycles were a major reason for the decline, reflecting soft economic conditions in the country as motorbikes are seen a luxury item.

- Exports to China, now the biggest customer of Japanese goods, rose 4.6 percent thanks to robust demand for Japanese automobiles. But year-on-year growth rate fell from a 8.3 percent pace in December, partly due to slower shipments of electronic parts.

- Imports increased 9.0 percent to 6.4909 trillion yen, the third largest on record, largely due to higher crude oil and natural gas prices.