Japan’s trade openness has increased significantly in the last decades as the country is working towards market liberalization and the expansion of trade relations. However, despite the increasing number of bilateral agreements created with trading partners, the United States and China remain Japan's biggest export markets. In 2024, the United States received around ** percent of commodities leaving Japan. China followed with a **** percent share, with general and electrical machinery being major goods exported from Japan to the East Asian partner. What goods are leaving Japan? Japan exported commodities valued at around *** trillion Japanese yen in 2024. Transport equipment and machinery were the leading commodities leaving the country, driven by the prominence of domestic automotive and machinery brands in the global market. Motor vehicles are a long-standing pillar of the export market, with widely recognized brands like Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota originating from Japan. Japan’s export position in the global market The demand for Japanese goods has been rising globally, pushed by the favorable impression of quality products among consumers and businesses. While Japan is not a heavily trade-dependent nation, the trade openness ratio jumped to an all-time high in 2022, as the sum of imports and exports constituted almost ** percent share of the gross domestic product. Commodity exports are the main segment in the trade accounts of the Japanese GDP, whereas service exports are a minor segment.

Japan's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$707.39 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Japan's main export partners were: the United States, China and South Korea. The top three export commodities were: Vehicles other than railway, tramway; Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers and Electrical, electronic equipment. Total Imports were valued at US$742.67 Billion. In 2024, Japan had a trade deficit of US$35.28 Billion.

In 2024, the total value of commodities exported from Japan exceeded *** trillion Japanese yen, reaching a decade-high. Machinery and transportation equipment are the main commodities exported from Japan.

Japan Exports to United States was US$141.52 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Japan Exports to United States - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

Japan's total Imports in 2024 were valued at US$742.67 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Japan's main import partners were: China, the United States and Australia. The top three import commodities were: Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products; Electrical, electronic equipment and Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers. Total Exports were valued at US$707.39 Billion. In 2024, Japan had a trade deficit of US$35.28 Billion.

In 2023, over *** thousand tons of salmon and trout were imported to Japan, making them the fishery and aquaculture products with the highest import volume. To put that into perspective: the domestic catch weight of salmon and trout was below *** thousand tons in past years.

Under the general trade system, only goods imported from Japan into the country (including Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, Kinmen, and Matsu) are limited and classified and summarized according to the "Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)" and the "Customs Import Tariff and Export Tariff of the Republic of China." Unit: Thousand US dollars.

Access Japan trade data with updated export-import records. Discover major products, top buyers and suppliers, HS codes, and real-time shipment data.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Exports: Commodities for Japan (XTEXVA01JPM667S) from Jan 1957 to Sep 2025 about Japan, trade, exports, and goods.

Key information about Japan Total Trade of Goods and Services: % of Nominal GDP

• Japan Total Trade of Goods & Services: % of Nominal GDP recorded 45.393 % in Dec 2024, compared with 47.632 % in the previous quarter.
• Japan Total Trade of Goods & Services: % of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1955 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 22.752 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 51.025 % in Sep 2022 and a record low of 14.627 % in Dec 1993.

CEIC calculates quarterly Total Trade of Goods and Services as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Total Trade of Goods and Services and quarterly Nominal GDP. Economic and Social Research Institute provides Total Trade of Goods and Services in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency, both based on SNA 2008. Total Trade of Goods and Services as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q1 1994 is calculated from Nominal GDP and Total Trade of Goods and Services both based on SNA 1993. Total Trade of Goods and Services as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q1 1980 is calculated from Nominal GDP and Total Trade of Goods and Services both based on SNA 1968.

Graph and download economic data for International Trade: Exports: Value (Goods): Total for Japan (XTEXVA01JPQ188S) from Q1 1994 to Q3 2023 about Japan, trade, exports, and goods.

In 2024, Japan exported scallops worth around **** billion Japanese yen, making them the fishery and aquaculture products with the highest export value. Yellowtail followed, with an export value of around **** billion yen.

Japan receives almost **** of its commodity imports from Asia, as China remains a key trade partner. In 2024, commodities imported from China accounted for a **** percent share of imports on a value basis. The United States followed as the second-largest source of goods entering Japan, while it overtook China as the leading export partner in 2024. What goods are entering Japan? The country’s low energy self-sufficiency and lack of reserves makes ************* like *********, *********************, and **** a key import item. Another commodity group important to domestic manufacturers is electrical machinery, including semiconductors and communications devices. As Japan is home to prominent multinational corporations in the automotive, technology, and consumer electronics industries, semiconductors have become a strategic element to the country’s economic success. While the Japanese government plans to revive the domestic semiconductor industry through financial support, imports of integrated circuits from production areas like Taiwan and South Korea are needed to meet demand. Japan’s import position in the global market Japan’s current account of goods and services is characterized by a deficit as imports exceed exports. The country managed to shrink the deficit in the last decade, but it grew again since 2022. A jump in mineral fuel prices and the weakening of the yen compared to major currencies like the U.S. dollar and euro drove up import costs. Apart from China, major trade partners with whom Japan recorded a negative trade balance include mostly suppliers of ************* like *********, ************, and the ********************.

Under the general trade system, only goods exported from the border (including Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu) to Japan are limited, classified and compiled according to the "Harmonized System (HS)" and the "Customs Import Tariff and Export Tax for the Republic of China". Unit: thousand US dollars.

Graph and download economic data for National Accounts: GDP by Expenditure: Current Prices: Exports of Goods and Services for Japan (JPNEXPORTQDSMEI) from Q1 1994 to Q3 2023 about Japan, exports, goods, and services.

Key information about Japan Imports: ICT Goods

• Japan Imports: ICT Goods was reported at 94,276,194.790 USD th in Dec 2023
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 101,261,550.700 USD th for Dec 2022
• Japan Imports: ICT Goods data is updated yearly, averaging 84,359,430.360 USD th from Dec 2000 to 2023, with 24 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 101,261,550.700 USD th in 2022 and a record low of 49,476,291.360 USD th in 2002
• Japan Imports: ICT Goods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Electronic Sector – Table RF.UNCTAD.ICT: ICT Goods: Total: Import Value

United States Imports from Japan was US$152.07 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from Japan - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for International Trade: Exports: Value (Goods): Total for Japan (XTEXVA01JPA188S) from 1994 to 2022 about Japan, trade, exports, and goods.

Exports in Japan increased to 9190.14 JPY Billion in February from 7865.19 JPY Billion in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Exports - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about Japan Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product

• Japan Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product was reported at 14,839,728.966 USD th in Dec 2024
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 15,181,069.919 USD th for Dec 2023
• Japan Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product data is updated yearly, averaging 4,480,476.242 USD th from Dec 1995 to 2024, with 30 observations
• The data reached an all-time high of 21,183,617.064 USD th in 2022 and a record low of 1,838,384.566 USD th in 1998
• Japan Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Sector – Table RT.UNCTAD.MPP: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product: Imports Value by Individual Economies and Territories