Japan Imports

Last Release

May 31, 2025

Actual

8,772.6

Units In

JPY Billion

9,273

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

N/A

Time to Release

N/A

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
11,163.77 Oct 2022	162.06 Jan 1963	3,504.38 JPY Billion	1963-2025	N/A

In 2019 imports to Japan dropped 5 percent from the previous year's record high amid global trade tensions. Main imports were: mineral fuels (22 percent of total imports), with petroleum accounting for 10 percent and LNG for 6 percent; electrical machinery (15 percent) on the back of telephony, telegraphy and semiconductors; chemicals (10 percent) due to medical products and organic chemicals; machinery (10 percent) in particular computers and units; foodstuff (9 percent) such as fish and fish preparations and meat and meat preparations; manufactured goods (9 percent) on nonferrous metals; and raw materials (6 percent) mainly ore of nonferrous and iron ore and concentrates. Japan's main import partners were China (23 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), the US (11 percent), Australia (6 percent), South Korea (4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4 percent), Taiwan (4 percent), the UAE (4 percent) and Thailand (4 percent).

Latest Updates

Imports to Japan expanded 26.7% yoy to JPY 7,251 billion in October 2021, after a 38.6% jump in September and compared with market expectations of 31.9%. Still, this was the ninth straight month of growth in arrivals, as domestic demand continued to recover in the wake of the pandemic. Purchases of mineral fuels surged 89.6%, lifted by petroleum (81.0%) and LNG (67.6%); while those of electrical machinery gained 11.0%, led by semiconductors (38.4%). Also, imports of others rose 1.3%, driven by clothing & accessories (3.8%); and those of chemicals went up 26.2%, due to medical products (12.7%). In addition, there were rises in arrivals of manufactured goods (31.7%), due to nonferrous metals (73.7%); raw materials (54.7%), buoyed by ore of nonferrous (34.2%); machinery (0.6%, led by power generating machines (2.9%); and transport equipment (31.5%). Imports rose from China (11.4%), Taiwan (32.3%), South Korea (35.5%), the US (18.5%), Germany (2.9%), and Australia (90.5%).