Tokyo, Oct. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japan incurred a customs-cleared trade deficit of 2,818.4 billion yen in April-September, marking the 11th consecutive deficit on a half-year basis, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report Wednesday. While both imports and exports hit their highest levels since comparable data became available in 1979, import growth outpaced export growth due to rising crude oil and other energy prices amid tensions in the Middle East, as well as the yen’s depreciation. Exports expanded 18.4 pct from a year earlier to 63,457 billion yen, thanks to increased shipments of semiconductors and other electronic components to China and of automobiles to the United States. Imports rose 20.4 pct to 66,275.4 billion yen, driven by purchases of semiconductor parts from Taiwan and U.S. crude oil. In trade with the United States, Japan recorded a surplus of 2,122.4 billion yen in the first half of fiscal 2026. Despite the easing impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, the surplus narrowed as oil imports reached record highs in both volume and value. In contrast, imports of Middle Eastern oil plunged 44.5 pct in volume, while its yen-based price climbed to a record high of 108,605 yen per kiloliter. In September alone, Japan logged an overall trade deficit of 536.5 billion yen, marking the fifth straight month of deficit. Exports of automobiles and other products were solid, while imports of crude oil, semiconductors and other electronic components increased. Both imports and exports were the largest on record for September in value. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
