Japan Records a Trade Deficit for 4th Month as Oil Imports Soar
Imports jumped 28% as higher crude oil prices lifted energy costs, while exports rose 19.3% on resilient semiconductor and auto demand.
- Japan's Finance Ministry reported Wednesday that the nation's trade deficit reached 1.1 trillion yen in August, marking the fourth consecutive month of red ink.
- Surging oil prices driven by conflicts in the Middle East, including curtailed traffic through the Strait near Hormuz, sent import costs soaring 28% to $71.9 billion.
- While exports rose 19.3% to 10 trillion yen on demand for computer chips and autos, the weaker yen threatens exporters like Toyota Motor Corp. by reducing export value.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently signaled support for higher interest rates, pressuring The Bank of Japan as it meets later this week to decide on its benchmark rate.
- Markets anticipate the yen could fall to about 150 later this year, while the Federal Reserve is expected to adjust its short-term interest rate to combat inflation.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Japan's imports surged for the third straight month in August, as higher crude oil prices drove up energy costs, while exports rose for the twelfth consecutive month thanks to strong demand for semiconductor products. Data from Japan's Ministry of Finance showed that total imports by value jumped 28% year-on-year in August, compared with the market consensus forecast of a 26.3% increase. Exports rose 19.3% year-on-year in August, compared with …
Japan’s Oil Import Bill Soars 59% as Trade Deficit Deepens
Japan’s oil import bill surged by 58.7% on the year last month, with volumes rising by a much more modest 3.6%. This pushed the country’s total import bill 28% higher and extended its trade deficit for the fourth month in a row. “Oil import costs could increase further from September onward, leading to a further deterioration in Japan's terms of trade, given the roughly two-month lag before higher crude prices are reflected in imports arriving a…
Japan's exports in August 2026 increased by 19.3 per cent annually to 10.048 trillion yen ($64.7 billion), reported by the Japanese Ministry of Finance.
Japan August imports jump as oil prices lift costs, exports stay firm
Associated Press News
Japan records a trade deficit for 4th month as oil imports soar
Japan’s trade deficit totaled $7 billion last month, as surging oil prices sent the cost of imports soaring.
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