In 2023, international trade equaled a ** percent share of the Japanese gross domestic product (GDP). The trade-to-GDP ratio is an indicator to measure the trade openness of a country by comparing the sum of imports and exports to the GDP. Even though Japan is not considered a trade-dependent nation, its openness to international trade increased significantly in the last decades, implying a gradual change from a restrictive trade market. Heavy lifters in Japanese trade Japan’s export position within global markets is supported by the reputation of multinational brands operating predominantly in the transport and heavy industries. Furthermore, general trading companies, so-called sogo shosha, are unique to the Japanese business landscape, and they contribute a significant amount to Japan’s international trade. Leading the Japanese trading market, the companies present a diversified portfolio covering raw materials, industrial products, and finished consumer goods. As machinery and transport equipment are the main commodities leaving and entering the countries, major sogo shosha that are operating in the segments through their subsidiaries represent the heavy lifters of foreign trade activities originating from Japan. Lifting of restrictive barriers In the last decades, the Japanese government has been taking steps to liberalize domestic markets and remove restrictive regulations that used to protect domestic industries from foreign competitors. As the country faces demographic challenges from an aging society as well as a sluggish automatization of manufacturing industries, sourcing from overseas is required to ensure a stable supply in domestic markets. Formerly a heavily regulated sector to protect local farmers, the trade of agricultural produce became a key point in the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral partnership agreements. By removing tariffs and setting standards for food safety as well as product labeling, imports of agricultural commodities have been exceeding ************* yen recently.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Trade Balance: Commodities for Japan (XTNTVA01JPQ664S) from Q1 1955 to Q1 2025 about Japan, trade, Net, and goods.

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.

Key information about Japan's Trade Balance

• Japan's Trade Balance recorded a deficit of 5.5 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with a deficit of 1.4 USD bn in the previous month
• Japan's Trade Balance data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1995 to Jan 2025, with an averaged value of 4.0 USD bn
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.3 USD bn in Feb 2004 and a record low of -20.0 USD bn in Feb 2014

CEIC converts monthly Trade Balance into USD. The Ministry of Finance provides Trade Balance in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Further information about Japan's Trade Balance

• In the latest reports, Japan's Total Exports reached 59.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 15.9% YoY (year-on-year)
• Total Imports recorded 64.6 USD bn in Jan 2025, an increase of 15.9% YoY (year-on-year)

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.

Trade (% of GDP) in Japan was reported at 45.15 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Trade (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Trade Balance: Commodities for Japan (XTNTVA01JPM667S) from Jan 1957 to May 2025 about Japan, trade, Net, and goods.

Trade in services (% of GDP) in Japan was reported at 10.35 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Trade in services (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Japan JP: Goods Trade: % of GDP data was reported at 28.120 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 25.307 % for 2016. Japan JP: Goods Trade: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 18.298 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.975 % in 2014 and a record low of 13.557 % in 1993. Japan JP: Goods Trade: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Trade Statistics. Merchandise trade as a share of GDP is the sum of merchandise exports and imports divided by the value of GDP, all in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Trade Organization, and World Bank GDP estimates.; Weighted average;

In 2023, Japan recorded a deficit in goods and services trade with China valued at almost ************ Japanese yen. Even though the trade deficit shrank in previous years, it exceeded ************* yen again in 2022 as imports exceeded exports.

Graph and download economic data for Current Account Balance: Total Trade of Goods for Japan (DISCONTINUED) (BPBLTD01JPQ637S) from Q1 1985 to Q4 2013 about current account, BOP, Japan, trade, and goods.

The Japan Trade Finance market, valued at approximately ¥30 trillion (estimated based on global market trends and the provided CAGR) in 2025, exhibits robust growth potential with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) exceeding 6.00%. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. Firstly, Japan's significant role in global trade, particularly within Asia, creates consistent demand for trade finance solutions. Secondly, the increasing complexity of international trade transactions necessitates sophisticated financial instruments and services. Thirdly, government initiatives aimed at promoting exports and attracting foreign investment indirectly stimulate the market. The market segmentation reveals a significant contribution from banks and trade finance companies as service providers, while international trade transactions represent a substantial share of applications. This market's growth, however, faces certain restraints, including global economic uncertainty, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and increasingly stringent regulatory compliance requirements. These factors can impact both the volume of trade and the risk appetite of financial institutions. Looking ahead to 2033, the Japan Trade Finance market is projected to experience considerable expansion driven by continued growth in Japanese exports and imports and the increasing adoption of digital trade finance solutions. This digital shift promises to streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency. While challenges remain, proactive adaptation by market players, focusing on innovative technology, risk mitigation strategies, and regulatory compliance, will be crucial in navigating the evolving landscape and capturing the market's growth potential. The prominence of established players like Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation underscores the market's maturity and competitive intensity. However, the emergence of fintech companies and their innovative offerings presents both opportunities and challenges for traditional players. Recent developments include: October 2022: Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) chose Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) as its diversity and inclusion partner for MSIM's charity donation connected to the recently introduced Impact Class, the firm said today. The OFN is a top national network comprising 370 Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). Its goal is to help underserved areas get cheap, honest financial services and products., August 2022: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC; President and CEO: Makoto Takashima) and Banque Misr to foster cooperation about trade digitization. The two banks' collaboration in trade digitalization will be accelerated by signing this MOU, which also aims to strengthen cross-industry collaboration. This collaboration will include digitalizing trade documents and visualizing trade transaction processes between Egypt, Japan, and other Asian nations.. Notable trends are: Digitization is Boosting the Market.

Japan Imports from Russia was US$5.68 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Japan Imports from Russia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

Japan Trade Balance: sa data was reported at -233.603 JPY bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 191.373 JPY bn for Feb 2025. Japan Trade Balance: sa data is updated monthly, averaging 427.640 JPY bn from Apr 1995 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 360 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,412.451 JPY bn in May 1998 and a record low of -2,318.880 JPY bn in Oct 2022. Japan Trade Balance: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.JA001: Trade Statistics.

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 July of 2025.

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.

Electrical machinery was the most traded commodity in Japan in 2024, with imports and exports summing up to over ** trillion Japanese yen. That year, the total value of foreign trade in Japan exceeded *** trillion yen.

In 2024, the balance of trade (BOT) for travel services in Japan was estimated to record a surplus valued over ************ Japanese yen. The trade of transportation services showed a negative balance as imports of services exceeded the value of exports from Japan.

Japan Exports to South Korea was US$46.38 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Japan Exports to South Korea - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

The Japan Trade Finance Market is segmented by the service provider (banks, trade finance companies, insurance companies, and other service providers) and application (domestic and international). The report offers market size and forecasts for Japan Trade Finance Market in value (USD million) for all the above segments.