Japan Balance of Trade  1963-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast

Japan's trade surplus widened 66.5 percent to JPY 721.4 billion in June of 2018 from JPY 433.2 billion a year earlier and far above markets estimates of a JPY 534.2 billion surplus. Exports grew by 6.7 percent year-on-year to JPY 7,052 billion, following a 8.1 percent rise in the previous month and compared to expectations of 7 percent growth. Imports went up much softer at 2.5 percent to JPY 6,330 billion, after a 14 percent gain in May and less than consensus of a 5.3 percent rise. Considering the first six months 2018, Japan's trade deficit narrowed to JPY 609.9 billion from JPY 1.02 trillion in the same period of the preceding year. Balance of Trade in Japan averaged 365.16 JPY Billion from 1963 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1608.67 JPY Billion in September of 2007 and a record low of -2795.12 JPY Billion in January of 2014.

Japan Balance of Trade
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Japan June Trade Surplus Larger than Expected


Japan's trade surplus widened 66.5 percent to JPY 721.4 billion in June of 2018 from JPY 433.2 billion a year earlier and far above markets estimates of a JPY 534.2 billion surplus.

In June, exports grew by 6.7 percent year-on-year to JPY 7,052 billion, following a 8.1 percent rise in the previous month and below expectations of  7 percent. Sales of transport equipment advanced 2.7 percent, mainly led by bus & trucks (11.3 percent), and those of machinery went up 8.4 percent, namely power generating machine (15.4 percent) and computers and units (8 percent). Also, exports rose for electrical machinery (8.1 percent), of which semiconductors (9 percent); others (2 percent), mainly driven by photographic supplies (2.9 percent); manufactured goods (9.5 percent), namely iron and steel products (7.2 percent) and non-ferrous metals (19.4 percent); and chemicals (11.6 percent), of which plastic materials (5.3 percent) and organic chemicals (6.2 percent).

Among major trading partners, sales to Asia rose 8.6 percent, mainly to China (11. percent), Taiwan (5.9 percent), Thailand (15 percent) and Singapore (2.9 percent), while those to Hong Kong (-0.6 percent), South Korea (-4.1 percent) fell. Also, exports went up to the Western European countries (5.4 percent), mainly Germany (14.5 percent); the EU countries (9.3 percent); the Middle East (6.5 percent); and Australia (18.7 percent). In contrast, sales to the US declined by 0.9 percent, the first drop in 17 months, amid worsening trade tensions, with shipments decreasing for cars (-12 percent), semiconductor manufacturing equipment (-40.2 percent) and aircraft (-10.4 percent).

Imports went up much softer at 2.5 percent to JPY 6,330 billion, after a 14 percent gain in May and missing consensus of a 5.3 percent rise. Purchases of mineral fuels rose by 9.3 percent, namely petroleum (20.2 percent), and those of others  expanded 2.4 percent), of which clothing and accessories (9.1 percent), and scientific, optical instruments (2 percent). In addition, imports went up for manufactured goods (9.4 percent), of which non-ferrous metals (23.1 percent), iron and steel products (2.3 percent) and manufactures of metals (6.2 percent); parts of motor vehicles (4.4 percent). Purchases of transport equipment increased 5 percent, namely motor vehicles (6.9 percent). On the other hand, imports of electrical machinery dropped by 1.7 percent, in particular semiconductors (-4.6 percent), and those of machinery decreased 4.1 percent, driven by computers and units (-20.1 percent). Also, purchases of chemicals decreased 0.5 percent, namely medical products (-11.2 percent). 

Inbound shipments increased from Asia (1.6 percent), mainly from South Korea (14.8 percent); and Thailand (8.3 percent), while declined from China (-0.6 percent); and Taiwan (-1.7 percent). Also, imports grew from the Western European countries (0.6 percent), mainly from Germany (5.6 percent), and Italy (23.6 percent); the EU countries (5.2 percent); and the Middle East (27 percent). In contrast, purchases from the US declined by 2.1 percent, mainly due to crude oil, aircraft, and coal. Also, imports from  Australia dropped by 9.1 percent.

Considering the first six months 2018, Japan's trade deficit narrowed to JPY 609.9 billion from JPY 1.02 trillion in the same period of the preceding year. 


Ministry of Finance l Rida | rida@tradingeconomics.com
7/19/2018 5:16:05 AM


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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-05-20 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥626B ¥797B ¥405.6B ¥330B
2018-06-17 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥-578B ¥625B ¥-235B ¥ -191B
2018-07-18 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥721B ¥-581B ¥534.2B ¥ 315.7B
2018-08-15 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥721B ¥ -0.96B
2018-09-18 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥ 575.5B
2018-10-17 11:50 PM Balance of Trade ¥ 61.2B


Japan Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 721.41 -580.46 1608.67 -2795.12 JPY Billion [+]
Exports 7052.39 6323.32 7681.69 105.08 JPY Billion [+]
Imports 6330.98 6901.65 8047.03 162.06 JPY Billion [+]
Current Account 1938.30 1845.12 3360.40 -1456.11 JPY Billion [+]
Current Account to GDP 4.02 3.70 4.70 -1.00 percent [+]
External Debt 413448.00 404921.00 413448.00 141743.00 JPY Billion [+]
Terms of Trade 96.60 98.30 276.10 83.10 Index Points [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 5651.00 13647.52 45202.00 -3825.00 JPY Hundreds Million [+]
Capital Flows 33063.00 4298.00 51917.00 -26928.00 JPY HML [+]
Tourism Revenues 23582000.00 16296000.00 23582000.00 821000.00 JPY Thousand [+]
Tourist Arrivals 2675000.00 2900700.00 2900700.00 225806.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 765.20 765.20 765.22 753.54 Tonnes [+]
Terrorism Index 3.60 2.45 3.60 0.00 [+]
Crude Oil Production 4.00 4.00 13.00 3.00 BBL/D/1K [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



Japan Balance of Trade

Between 1980 and 2010 Japan had been recording trade surpluses every year due to rising exports. Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, trade balance swing to deficit as the country had to increase purchases of fossil fuels and gas in the wake of weaker yen. The surplus was back in 2016 and 2017. Japan reports the biggest trade surpluses with United States, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Netherlands. The biggest trade deficits are recorded with: China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia. This page provides - Japan Balance of Trade - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Japan Balance of Trade - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
721.41 -580.46 1608.67 -2795.12 1963 - 2018 JPY Billion Monthly
Current Prices, NSA




balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Australia 827.00 May/18
Brazil 5881.58 Jun/18
Canada -2771.20 May/18
China 416.13 Jun/18
Euro Area 16514.10 May/18
France -6005.00 May/18
Germany 19669.00 May/18
India -16600.00 Jun/18
Indonesia 1742.60 Jun/18
Italy 3377.54 May/18
Japan 721.41 Jun/18
Mexico -1587.00 May/18
Netherlands 5030.00 May/18
Russia 15151.00 May/18
South Korea 6331.21 Jun/18
Spain -3050045.00 Apr/18
Switzerland 1309.00 Jun/18
Turkey -7759.34 May/18
United Kingdom -2790.00 May/18
United States -43053.00 May/18


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