Japan Exports YoY

Exports from Japan rose by 7.2% yoy to JPY 7,863.75 billion in January 2025, picking up from a 2.8% growth in December while pointing to the fourth month of gain. Shipments of transport equipment increased by 12.0%, boosted by motor vehicles (10.5%) and cars (11.4%). In the meantime, sales of others climbed by 22.2%, driven by scientific and optical instruments (4.0%). Machinery exports added 0.8%, led by power-generating machine (9.3%); and chemical shipments gained 4.9%, supported by plastics (5.7%). In contrast, sales of electrical machinery fell 0.6% despite a 2.2% rise in semiconductors. Also, exports of manufactured goods shrank 0.9%, weighed by iron and steel products (-4.1%). Sales grew to the US (8.1%), Hong Kong (13.7%), Taiwan (12.7%), South Korea (6.1%), Australia (5.0%), and Russia (7.9%). Sales to the ASEAN countries soared 15.6%, notably Singapore (54.4%) and Thailand (3.0%). Conversely, sales fell to China (-6.2%), India (-1.0%), and the EU countries (-15.1%).

Exports from Japan rose by 2.8% yoy to a new peak of JPY 9,910.60 billion in December 2024, exceeding market forecasts of 2.3% and pointing to the third straight month of growth. Machinery shipments expanded by 3.7%, led by semicon machinery (10.6%). Also, sales of electrical machinery rose 4.7%, lifted by semiconductors (6.5%); while exports of others climbed 14.7%, driven by scientific, optical instruments (5.0%). Chemical shipments gained 6.3%, supported by plastics (6.9%); and sales of manufactured goods added 0.3%, mainly driven by iron and steel products (0.3%). In contrast, shipments of transport equipment fell 7.6%, dragged by motor vehicles (-5.9%) and cars (-5.2%). Exports grew to Hong Kong (14.2%), Taiwan (17.2%), South Korea (10.9%), India (5.5%), Germany (5.8%), Russia (10.3%), and the EU (0.5%). Sales to the ASEAN countries increased by 7.6%, notably Singapore (27.6%) and Thailand (2.7%). Conversely, sales fell to China (-3.0%), the US (-2.1%), and Australia (-11.9%).

Exports from Japan rose by 3.8% yoy to JPY 9,152.38 billion in November 2024, accelerating from a 3.1% growth in the prior month and beating market forecasts of 2.8%. It was the strongest growth since August, with sales of others soaring 23.2%, buoyed by scientific, optical instruments (6.9%). Also, machinery shipments rose 5.1%, led by semicon machinery (32.1%); while electrical machinery exports added 1.0%, helped by electrical apparatus (3.5%). Chemical shipments gained 3.5%, lifted by plastics (7.0%); and exports of manufactured goods rose 1.0%, mainly driven by non-ferrous metals (14.7%). In contrast, exports of transport equipment fell 6.0%, weighed by motor vehicles (-5.2%) and cars (-6.4%). Exports grew to China (8.9%), Hong Kong (32.2%), Taiwan (19.8%), South Korea (5.0%), India (9.6%), and Russia (11.3%). Shipments to the ASEAN countries rose 5.5%, notably Singapore (46.7%) and Indonesia (0.9%). Conversely, sales fell to the US (-8.0%), Germany (-11.8%), and the EU (-12.5%).