Japan Balance of Trade

Between 1980 and 2010, Japan had consistently posted annual trade surpluses, resulted in an increase in its exports. After the Fukushima nuclear accident, the country was compelled to boost its purchases of fossil fuels and gas due to the weakening yen. As a result, the trade balance went from positive to negative in 2011. Japan's trade balance returned to surplus in 2016 and 2017, however, in 2018 and 2019, the country's trade balance swung back into deficit as a result of ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China, as well as the weak global economy. In 2019, Japan had the largest trade surpluses with the United States, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Netherlands. The countries with the largest trade deficits were China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.