News

Japan Trade Balance Switches to Deficit
Japan's trade balance switched to a deficit of JPY 930 billion in April 2020 from JPY 59 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier, compared to market expectations of a JPY 560 billion gap. Year-on-year, exports tumbled 21.9 percent to JPY 5.20 trillion while imports shrank 7.2 percent to JPY 6.13 trillion.
Published on 2020-05-20

Japan March Trade Surplus Far Below Estimates
Japan's trade surplus plunged to JPY 4.95 billion in March 2020 from JPY 517.29 billion in the same month a year earlier and well below market expectations of a JPY 420 billion surplus. Year-on-year, exports tumbled 11.7 percent to JPY 6.36 trillion while imports shrank 5 percent to JPY 6.35 trillion.
Published on 2020-04-19

Japan Trade Surplus Widens on Plunging Imports
Japan's trade surplus widened to JPY 1.11 trillion in February 2020 from JPY 0.33 trillion in the same month a year earlier and beating market expectations of a JPY 0.92 trillion surplus. It marked the first trade surplus in four months, as exports fell 1 percent year-on-year to JPY 6.32 trillion, whereas imports shrank 14 percent to JPY 5.21 trillion.
Published on 2020-03-17

Japan Trade Gap Narrows in January
Japan's trade deficit narrowed to JPY 1.31 trillion in January 2020 from JPY 1.42 trillion in the same month a year earlier and compared with market expectations of a JPY 1.69 trillion gap. It was the third straight month of trade gap, as exports fell 2.6 percent year-on-year to JPY 5.43 trillion, the lowest in three years mainly due to lower shipments of cars and machines to the US and sales of car parts and electronics to China. Imports shrank 3.6 percent to JPY 6.74 trillion.
Published on 2020-02-19

Japan Trade Gap Widens in December
Japan's trade deficit rose to JPY 152.5 billion in December 2019 from JPY 55.7 billion a year earlier and compared with market expectations of JPY 150 billion. Exports fell 6.3 percent to JPY 6.58 trillion, the thirteenth consecutive month of decline, down from a 7.9 percent tumble in November but more than an expected 4.2 percent slump. Meantime, imports slipped 4.9 percent to JPY 6.73 trillion, after plunging 15.7 percent in November and compared with market forecasts of a 3.4 percent fall. Considering full 2019, the country recorded a JPY 1643.8 billion trade deficit, the biggest gap in four years. Exports went down 5.6 percent and imports declined 5 percent.
Published on 2020-01-22

Japan Trade Deficit Narrows in November
Japan's trade deficit narrowed sharply to JPY 82 billion in November 2019, from JPY 739 billion a year earlier and compared to market expectations of JPY 369 billion. Imports decreased by the most in nearly three years as consumption weakened after October's sales tax hike, while exports dropped for the 12th consecutive month, amid declining shipments to China and the US.
Published on 2019-12-17

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Surplus
Japan posted a trade surplus of JPY 17.3 billion in October 2019, shifting from a JPY 456 billion deficit the same month a year earlier but missing market expectations of a JPY 300 billion surplus. This was the first surplus in four months. Imports decreased 14.8 percent over a year earlier, the sixth consecutive drop, mainly due to lower oil prices. Exports slumped 9.2 percent, falling for the eleventh straight month and by the most in three years, amid a drop in shipments to China and the US.
Published on 2019-11-19

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Deficit
Japan unexpectedly posted a trade deficit of JPY 123 billion deficit in September 2019, shifting from a JPY 124.1 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier and missing market expectations of a JPY 54 billion surplus. This was the third straight month of shortfall, as exports slumped 5.2 percent, falling for the tenth month in a row, while imports decreased at a softer 1.5 percent, the fifth consecutive month of drop.
Published on 2019-10-21

Japan Trade Gap Narrows as Imports Slump
Japan's trade deficit narrowed to JPY 136.3 billion in August 2019 from JPY 448.1 billion in the same month a year earlier and compared to market expectations of a JPY 356 billion gap. Exports declined 8.2 percent, the ninth straight month of decline, while imports plunged 12 percent, as trade policy uncertainty continues to drag activity.
Published on 2019-09-18

Japan Trade Gap Widens in July
Japan's trade deficit widened to JPY 249.6 billion in July 2019 from JPY 227.4 billion in the same month a year earlier and larger than market expectations of a JPY 200 billion gap. Exports fell 1.6 percent, the eight straight month of decline, while imports dropped at a slower 1.2 percent.
Published on 2019-08-18

Japan Trade Surplus Narrows in June
Japan's trade surplus narrowed to JPY 589 billion in June 2019 from JPY 728 billion in the same month a year earlier and compared to market expectations of a JPY 420 billion surplus. Exports declined for a seventh straight month while imports fell for the second month in a row.
Published on 2019-07-17

Japan Trade Deficit Widens in May
Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 967 billion in May 2019 compared with a JPY 577 billion shortfall in the same month a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 979 billion gap. Exports declined for a sixth straight month while imports edged down after climbing in April.
Published on 2019-06-19

Japan Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply
Japan posted a trade surplus of JPY 60 billion in April 2019 compared with a JPY 621 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 203 billion surplus. Exports declined for a fifth straight month while imports gained steam.
Published on 2019-05-21

Japan Trade Surplus Narrows in March
Japan posted a trade surplus of JPY 529 billion in March 2019 compared with a JPY 784 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 372 billion surplus. Exports declined for a fourth straight month while imports increased less than expected.
Published on 2019-04-16

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in February
Japan posted a trade surplus of JPY 339 billion in February 2019, compared with a JPY 14 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 310 billion surplus. Exports declined for a third straight month while imports dropped the most in over two years.
Published on 2019-03-17

Japan Trade Gap Largest in Near 5 Years
Japan logged a trade deficit of JPY 1415 billion in January 2019, compared to a JPY 948 billion shortfall a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 1011 billion gap. It is the fourth consecutive monthly gap and the widest since March 2014, as exports declined 8.4 percent (vs -3.8 percent in December) to JPY 5.57 trillion, mainly dragged by a 17.4 percent plunge in sales to China. Meantime, imports edged down 0.6 percent (vs +1.9 percent in December) to JPY 6.99 trillion, despite a 7.7 percent climb in purchases from the US.
Published on 2019-02-19

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in December
Japan logged a trade deficit of JPY 55.3 billion in December 2018, compared with a surplus of JPY 356.2 billion a year earlier and market expectations of a JPY 29.5 billion gap. Imports rose 1.9 percent to JPY 7.08 trillion, mainly nudged by 23.9 percent jump in purchases from the US, whereas exports declined 3.8 percent to JPY 7.02 trillion, mainly dragged by a 7.0 percent drop in sales to China. Considering 2018 full year, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 1.20 trillion, the first trade gap since 2015, as persistent global trade tensions negatively affected Japanese companies' exports.
Published on 2019-01-22

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in November
Japan trade balance shifted to a deficit of JPY 737.3 billion in November 2018 from a JPY 105.2 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier and worse than market estimates of a JPY 450 billion shortfall. It is the largest trade gap since January, as imports jumped 12.5 percent year-on-year to JPY 7.67 trillion while exports rose at a softer 0.1 percent to JPY 6.93 trillion.Considering the first eleven months of 2018, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 1.14 trillion, compared to a surplus of JPY 2.5 trillion in the same period a year earlier.
Published on 2018-12-19

Japan Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in October
Japan recorded a trade deficit of JPY 449 billion in October 2018 compared to a JPY 278.6 billion surplus in the same month a year ago, much worse than market expectations of a JPY 70 billion gap. Imports jumped the most since 2014, as rising energy prices boosted oil imports while exports rebounded less than expected. The trade surplus with the US shrank 11 percent year-on-year to JPY 573.4 billion while the trade gap with China jumped 52.1 percent to JPY 406.2 billion.
Published on 2018-11-18

Japan Trade Surplus Narrows in September
Japan’s trade surplus narrowed to JPY 140 billion in September 2018, compared to a JPY 654 billion surplus in the same month a year ago, but well above market expectations of a JPY 50 billion deficit. Imports jumped 7.0 percent (vs 15.4 percent in August), mainly nudged by a 35.4 percent increase in purchases from the Middle East. In contrast, exports contracted 1.2 percent (following a 6.6 gain percent in August), mostly dragged by a 4.6 percent drop in exports to South Korea and a 1.7 percent dip in sales to China.
Published on 2018-10-18