Japan experienced its most significant export growth in nine months this November, with exports increasing by 6.1% compared to the same month the previous year, according to data released by the nation’s finance ministry on Wednesday.

This robust growth exceeded the expectations of economists surveyed by Reuters, who had anticipated a 4.8% rise. It also surpassed the 3.6% growth recorded in October.

The surge in exports was largely driven by a notable 23.6% increase in goods sent to Western Europe, along with an 8.8% rise in exports to the United States, Japan’s second-largest trading partner. This marks the first uptick in exports to the U.S. since March.

Despite a 4.1% decline in the overall value of automobile exports, shipments of Japanese cars to the United States rebounded with a 1.5% year-on-year increase in November.

The data comes after revised GDP numbers for the third quarter showed that Japan’s economy contracted more than initially estimated, shrinking 0.6% quarter on quarter, and 2.3% on an annualized basis.

Shipments to mainland China fell 2.4%, but exports to Hong Kong jumped 11.4% compared to the same period the previous year. Exports of “foodstuff” to mainland China fell 5.9% by value.

In November, tensions between Japan and China rose after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by force could trigger an intervention by Japan’s military, leading to Beijing restricting imports of Japanese seafood.

Imports into Japan rose 1.3% in November, compared to expectations of a 2.5% rise.

Trade and diplomatic frictions aside, Japanese companies are positive on business growth, with the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey showing that sentiment among Japanese companies mostly improved in the fourth quarter, especially among small manufacturers.

Jesper Koll, expert director at Tokyo-based financial services firm Monex Group, highlighted the growth in semiconductor and equipment exports, saying that the U.S.-led boom in tech spending is translating into growing exports of specialized machinery and equipment.

Exports of electrical machinery jumped 7.4%, and semiconductor-related exports surged 13% year on year, which Koll said is a “confirmation of Japan’s competitiveness in supplying machines that make machines.”

The market is underestimating the positive implications of the U.S. capex boom, much of what goes into the new data centers and AI hardware enablers and power centers is Made in Japan, and can only be made in Japan,” Koll added.