On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the container ship “NYK Venus” operated by NYK Line docked at Oi Container Terminal in Tokyo.
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Japan’s exports in June increased by 19.3% year-on-year, the fastest pace since November 2022, supported by semiconductor equipment shipments and the weaker yen.
Export growth was higher than the 18.6% expected by economists polled by Reuters and above the 16.8% in May.
Shipments to Asia increased by 22.7%, and most notably, exports to Taiwan increased by 46.4% year-on-year. Exports to China, Japan’s largest trading partner, increased by 17.6%, and goods sold to the United States increased by 13% from a year ago.
Japan’s exports have been boosted by semiconductor shipments, and the AI boom has boosted the stock prices of domestic technology companies, including: Tokyo Electron, Renesas Electronics and Advantest So far this year, it’s between 50% and 93%. Semiconductor shipments increased by 53.8% in June.
Export value increased sharply in June, but the volume increased by only 0.2%. Marcel Tieriant, head of Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, said the strength in export values was almost entirely due to higher export prices, reflecting both a weaker yen and higher memory chip prices.
Japanese circle The currency has fallen to its lowest level in decades and is currently trading at $163 against the dollar. benchmark Nikkei Stock Average The stock rose 1.56% after the announcement.
Exports continue to be one of Japan’s main economic drivers, with economic growth in the first quarter of 0.5% compared to the previous quarter, or 1.8% (revised annualized rate).
Japan’s imports in June increased by 25.4% year-on-year, which was also the highest growth rate since November 2022 and exceeded the expected 21% increase.
The country saw a significant increase in oil imports, up 59.3% from a year ago, as Tokyo grapples with soaring oil prices caused by the Iran war. According to the International Energy Agency, Japan meets more than 87% of its energy needs with imports.
Thieliant wrote that Japan’s crude oil imports recovered significantly in June, but noted that with the Strait of Hormuz closed again, import volumes will remain below pre-war levels “for some time yet.”
At its monetary policy meeting in June, the Bank of Japan pointed out that overseas economies were improving due to demand for AI. As a result, for Japan, “the deterioration in terms of trade has eased, and concerns about an economic slowdown have subsided.”
