Japan posted a trade deficit of 5.2 trillion yen, or about 37 billion dollars, in the 2024 fiscal year, a result that left its trade balance in the red for the fourth consecutive year.
The deficit was down 15 percent year-on-year, however, due largely to an increase in exports, which climbed by 5.9 percent to 108.9 trillion yen — the biggest amount since the government started keeping comparable data in 1979.
A big factor was an increase in exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, mainly to Taiwan, driven by rising demand for AI chips.
Another reason is that although auto exports to the US fell in volume, they rose in value due to the weaker yen.
Imports climbed 4.7 percent to 114.1 trillion yen, the second-largest figure on record.
The import value of crude oil and coal dropped, while for PCs from the US and smartphones from China, it increased.