Japan posted a record trade deficit last year. Japan’s Finance Ministry said Thursday that Japan posted a trade deficit of more than four-point-four trillion yen in 2011, the largest since 1979.

The record trade deficit is partly attributable to dampened exports due to a strong yen, repercussions of the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan last March, and huge flooding in Thailand.

A boost in the import of liquefied natural gas, which is necessary for operating thermal power plants, also contributed to the deficit.