Japan Balance of Trade

Last Release

Jul 31, 2025

Actual

-117.55

Units In

JPY Billion

152.1

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Sep 16, 2025

Time to Release

8 Days 0 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
1,608.68 Sep 2007	-3,498.6 Jan 2023	268.92 JPY Billion	1963-2025	N/A

Between 1980 and 2010 Japan had been recording trade surpluses every year due to rising exports. However, the trade balance swung to deficit in 2011, as the Fukushima nuclear disaster forced the country to increase its purchases of fossil fuels and gas in the wake of weaker yen. The surplus was back in 2016 and 2017, but in 2018 and 2019 Japan's trade balance shifted back into deficit amid persistent trade tensions between the US and China, and sluggish global growth. In 2019, Japan reported the biggest trade surpluses with the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and the Netherlands. The biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

Latest Updates

Japan’s trade deal with the U.S. is ‘not settled’ as Washington has yet to issue key presidential orders on tariffs for pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, according to Japan’s top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa. The uncertainty comes as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday, adding political instability that could complicate Tokyo’s negotiating stance. ‘While a presidential order has been issued concerning adjustments to general tariffs as well as automobile and auto parts tariffs, presidential orders for most-favoured-nation status for pharmaceuticals and semiconductors have not been issued,’ Akazawa said after talks in Washington. He added that Tokyo will continue pressing for the missing orders and begin a full analysis of the U.S. auto tariff changes and their impact on Japan’s trade competitiveness