Japan's Major Exports & Imports: Trade Profile

Top Exports

• Motor vehicles & parts
• Machinery (industrial robots, machine tools)
• Electronics (semiconductors, consumer electronics)
• Chemicals (specialty, pharmaceuticals)
• Steel & non-ferrous metals
• Textiles (technical fabrics, carbon fiber)
• Food & beverages (seafood, whisky, green tea)

Top Imports

• Food & beverages (meat, wheat, soy, processed foods)
• Machinery & electronics (semiconductors, computers)
• Chemicals (pharma ingredients, plastics)
• Textiles (raw cotton, synthetic fibers)
• Energy: Crude oil, LNG, coal

Key Rankings

• #3 global vehicle exporter (after Germany, USA)
• #1 electronics exporter (~20% world share)
• #2 food importer (after USA)
• #1 coal importer (~1/3 world imports)
• #2 LNG importer (after USA)

Trade surplus finances Japan's current-account surplus; exports ≈ 15% GDP, imports ≈ 10% GDP.