Japan’s exports rose at the fastest clip in a year last month, boosting the likelihood of the economy returning to growth in the October-December quarter.

Exports rose 9.8% in December from a year earlier, the biggest jump in a year and reversing from a 0.2% dip in the previous month, the finance ministry reported Wednesday. Economists had forecast a 9.2% increase. Shipments to the US gained at a double-digit clip and those to China rose for the first time in 13 months.