By Chikafumi Hodo
TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japanese exports are expected to rise for a 10th straight month from a year earlier in June, while imports are seen rising for a fifth consecutive month as the resource-poor country continues to diversify its crude oil purchases away from the Middle East. Robust imports, coupled with a weaker yen against the dollar, are expected to leave the trade balance in a modest deficit for a second straight month.
Exports are forecast to increase 18.0% from a year earlier in June after rising a revised 16.8% in May. The annual increase in May was driven by shipments of computer chips, automobiles and non-ferrous metals.
Japan’s exports have remained resilient despite heightened geopolitical tensions that have fueled concerns over raw material supplies and the global economic outlook. Shipments also continued to grow across all major destinations, including the United States, showing little sign of slowing despite ongoing trade disputes stemming from Trump tariffs and worsening diplomatic relations with China.
Imports are projected to increase 20.0% from a year earlier in June after rising 12.5% in May, when purchases of computer chips, smartphones and non-ferrous metal ores led the gains. The trend appears to have continued in June, with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) data released on July 7 showing that imports during the first 20 days of the month rose 21.5% from the same period a year earlier.
As a result, the trade balance is expected to post a modest deficit of 47.25 billion yen in June after recording a revised deficit of 391.79 billion yen in May. The MOF data showed that the trade balance for the first 20 days of June registered a deficit of 552.6 billion yen, widening 73.1% from a deficit of 319.2 billion yen in the same period of 2025.