Japan Imports1963-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar | Historical | Chart

Imports to Japan slumped 26.2 percent yoy to JPY 5.02 trillion in May 2020, after falling 7.1 percent in the previous month. It marked the 13th straight month of drop in purchases, mainly due to lower imports of mineral fuels (-57.5 percent vs -32.9 percent in April) led by petroleum (-78.9 percent) amid lower prices. Also, imports of machinery fell 12.6 percent after a 4.3 percent decline. Among top trading partners, imports from the US tanked 27.5 percent after growing 1.6 percent in the previous month, while those from China dropped 2 percent after climbing 11.7 percent. Also, purchases from Westen Europe plunged 30.9 percent, led by a 48.8 percent decline from France.

Imports to Japan slumped 7.2 percent yoy to JPY 6.13 trillion in April 2020, compared with market forecasts of a 12.9 percent decline. It marked the 12th straight month of drop in purchases, mainly due to lower imports of mineral fuels (-32.9 percent) led by petroleum (-43.7 percent) amid lower prices. Also, imports of machinery fell 4.3 percent and those of foodstuff declined 5.9 percent. In contrast, purchases of manufactured goods jumped 12.3 percent, as textiles & fabrics surged 124.5 percent. Among top trading partners, imports from South Korea fell 8.8 percent and those from Malaysia plummeted 38.7 percent. Purchases from the EU also declined sharply, down 6.8 percent, while imports from China climbed 11.7 percent, as the world's second largest economy continues to recover from restrictions. Meanwhile, purchases from the US grew by only 1.6 percent.

Imports to Japan contracted 5% percent yoy to JPY 6.35 trillion in March 2020, compared with market forecasts of a 9.8% decline and following a 14% plunge a month earlier. It marked the 11th straight month of drop in purchases, mainly due to mineral fuels (-11.6%), of which petroleum (-8.3%) and LNG (-13.5%). Also, imports fell for clothing & accessories (-4.6%) and scientific, optical instruments (-1.4%); machinery (-9.6%), namely computers and units (-9.3%). In addition, lower arrivals were recorded for manufactured goods (-4.3%) and transport equipment (-8.3%), while chemicals purchases were flat. Conversely, imports rose for electrical machinery (2.6%). Purchases fell from China (-4.5%), Hong Kong (-84.3%), South Korea (-4.7%), Thailand (-5.2%), Australia (-15.4%), Germany (-19%), the UK (-17.7%), France (-38.5%), Russia (-15%), and Saudi Arabia (-19.1%). In contrast, imports rose from Singapore (7.2%), the US (1.3%), and the UAE (24.9%).

Imports to Japan shrank 14 percent yoy to JPY 5.21 trillion in February of 2020, compared with market expectations of a 14.4 percent slump and following a 3.6 percent decline a month earlier. It marked the tenth straight month of falling purchases, mainly dragged down by mineral fuels (-9.8 percent) and electrical machinery (-18.6 percent). In contrast, imports of raw materials climbed 6.2 percent. Among top trading partners, imports from China plummeted 47.1 percent, the most since August of 1986, as the country went into lockdown to contain the spreading of the coronavirus disease. Meanwhile, purchases from the US sank 5.9 percent.