Japan's exports fell for the first time in 10 months in September, data showed on Thursday, a worry for policymakers as any prolonged weakness in global demand may complicate the central bank's path to exit years of ultra-easy monetary policy.

Japan has reported its exports to key destinations like China fell in September, leading it to rack up a trade deficit of about $2 billion for the month.

Japan’s trade balance shifted to a deficit of ¥294.24 billion in September, from a surplus of JPY 60.56 billion in the same month a year earlier. It was the third straight month of a trade gap, coming in worse than the market forecast of a shortfall of ¥237.