The damage to Japan's economy from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami is showing up in newly released trade figures. The Japanese Finance Ministry on Wednesday announced that exports fell by 2.2 percent in March, compared to the same month a year earlier. It was the first decline in 16 months. The ministry said shipments of automobiles plunged 28 percent, while exports of electronic devices such as semiconductors dropped more than six percent. Analysts warned that the situation will likely worsen in the months ahead as exporters use up existing stock and are unable to resume full production. The twin disasters destroyed or damaged scores of factories across northeastern Japan and curtailed electricity supplies nationwide, crippling production and supply chains.