Japan's exports rose 11.7% yoy to a record JPY 11,003.3 billion in March 2026, beating market forecasts of 11% and picking up from February’s 4.0% gain. This marked the seventh straight month of export growth, boosted by stronger shipments to key trading partners including China (17.7%), Hong Kong (7.6%), Taiwan (27.1%), ASEAN (19.7%), the EU (18.2%), and India (8.5%). Sales to the U.S. rose 3.4%, marking the first gain in four months as headwinds linked to tariffs imposed by President Trump eased. In contrast, shipments to Russia fell 9.4%, while exports to the Middle East plunged 45.9%, reflecting disruptions tied to the Iran war. Sales expanded for all components, including transport equipment (3.4%), notably motor vehicles and car; machinery (7.1%), led by semicon machinery; electrical machinery (21.5%), boosted by chips and IC; others (18.1%), driven by scientific, optical instruments; manufactured goods (12.7%), owing to non-ferrous metals; and chemicals, particularly plastics. source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Exports YoY in Japan increased to 11.70 percent in March from 4 percent in February of 2026. Exports YoY in Japan averaged 7.81 percent from 1964 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 89.20 percent in August of 1974 and a record low of -49.40 percent in February of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Exports YoY. Japan Exports YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-17 11:50 PM
Exports YoY
Feb 4.2% 16.8% 1.6%
2026-04-21 11:50 PM
Exports YoY
Mar 11.7% 4% 11%
2026-05-20 11:50 PM
Exports YoY
Apr 11.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 666.98 44.30 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Capital Flows 42127.00 -5281.00 JPY Hundred Million Feb 2026
Current Account 3933.00 942.00 JPY Billion Feb 2026
Exports 11003.32 9571.58 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Exports YoY 11.70 4.00 percent Mar 2026
Exports YoY 11.70 4.00 percent Mar 2026
External Debt 725809.01 697418.91 JPY Billion Dec 2025
Net Foreign Direct Investment 14572.00 14489.00 JPY Hundred Million Feb 2026
Imports 10336.34 9514.31 JPY Billion Mar 2026
Imports YoY 10.90 10.30 percent Mar 2026


Japan Exports YoY
Exports of high technology products have been the engine of Japan's economic growth since 1960. Exports account for around 19 percent of total GDP. Main exports were: transport equipment (24 percent of total exports), with motor vehicles accounting for 16 percent; machinery (20 percent) on the back of power generating machine and semicon machinery; electrical machinery (17 percent), such as semiconductors, IC and electrical apparatus; chemicals (11 percent), mainly plastic materials and organic chemicals; and manufactured goods (11 percent), such as iron and steel products, nonferrous metals and manufactures of metals. Japan's main export partners were the US (20 percent), China (19 percent), the EU (12 percent) in particular Germany (3 percent), South Korea (7 percent), Taiwan (6 percent), Hong Kong (5 percent), and Thailand (4 percent).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
11.70 4.00 89.20 -49.40 1964 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Exports Hit Record High
Japan's exports rose 11.7% yoy to a record JPY 11,003.3 billion in March 2026, beating market forecasts of 11% and picking up from February’s 4.0% gain. This marked the seventh straight month of export growth, boosted by stronger shipments to key trading partners including China (17.7%), Hong Kong (7.6%), Taiwan (27.1%), ASEAN (19.7%), the EU (18.2%), and India (8.5%). Sales to the U.S. rose 3.4%, marking the first gain in four months as headwinds linked to tariffs imposed by President Trump eased. In contrast, shipments to Russia fell 9.4%, while exports to the Middle East plunged 45.9%, reflecting disruptions tied to the Iran war. Sales expanded for all components, including transport equipment (3.4%), notably motor vehicles and car; machinery (7.1%), led by semicon machinery; electrical machinery (21.5%), boosted by chips and IC; others (18.1%), driven by scientific, optical instruments; manufactured goods (12.7%), owing to non-ferrous metals; and chemicals, particularly plastics.
2026-04-22
Japan Export Growth at 4-Month Low
Japan’s exports rose 4.2% yoy to JPY 9,571.6 billion in February 2026, slowing sharply from a 16.8% surge in the previous month and marking the weakest growth since last October, amid softer demand from China and the U.S. Still, sales extended their growth streak to a sixth month, beating market forecasts of a 1.6% increase. Shipments were mainly higher to Hong Kong (32.3%), Taiwan (6.2%), ASEAN countries (5.1%), the EU (14.0%), India (22.4%), Australia (8.5%), Russia (65.9%), and the Middle East (27.1%). In contrast, shipments fell to China (-10.9%) and South Korea (-2.5%). Exports to the U.S. also slipped 8.0%, steeper than a 5.1% drop in January, due to weakness in automobiles, auto parts, and pharmaceuticals, reflecting headwinds from President Trump's tariffs on a wide range of Japanese goods. Economists expect export recovery to stay modest amid slowing global activity, with Middle East tensions and higher oil prices adding downside risks.
2026-03-18
Japan Export Growth at Over 3-Year High
Japan’s exports surged 16.8% year on year to JPY 9,187.5 billion, sharply picking up from a 5.1% growth in the previous month and marking the fastest pace since November 2022. The latest reading also exceeded market forecasts of 12%, boosted by robust demand ahead of the Lunar New Year from China (32%) and other Asian markets, including Hong Kong (73.1%), Taiwan (35.3%), South Korea (10.8%), ASEAN countries (9.3%), and Vietnam (30.6%). Sales also expanded to India (9.2%), Australia (9.6%), the EU (29.6%), Russia (53.4%), and Germany (30%). In contrast, shipments to the U.S. fell 5%, due to weakness in pharmaceuticals, metal processing machinery, and autos, following an 11.1% plunge in December. After a sharp hit from U.S. tariffs in Q3 2025, Japan’s exports have begun to recover following the September deal with Washington that imposed a uniform 15% tariff on most goods. Still, the rebound remains fragile amid lingering global uncertainty.
2026-02-18


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