A flag of Japan flies near the cargo containers on the coast of Odaiba de Tokyo on August 6, 2020.
Behrouc Mehri | Getty Images collaborator
Japan reported on Thursday a 3.9% increase in March exports compared to the previous year, one month after exports saw their greatest increase in May 2024.
Growth lost expectations of an increase of 4.5% of economists surveyed by Reuters, and was lower than the 11.4% jump in February.
By region, Japanese exports increased more to the Middle East, registering an increase of 17.1%, compared to the same period of the previous year.
Exports to the US, the second largest commercial partner of Japan, saw an increase of 3.1%.
March data does not include the total impact of the rates of US President Donald Trump. The United States had announced tariffs or 25% in car imports as of April 3, and 25% of steel leaflets and aluminum entered into force on March 12.
However, Trump has suspended his “reciprocal” or 24% in Japan for 90 days, leaving a reference rate or 10%.
Commercial data also occur when Japan is locked in commercial negotiations with the United States on Thursday, Trump said in a social publication of the truth that there was a “great progress” in the conversations, since he previously said that he would also be in attending the commercial meeting. Hello, he also wrote that the conversations will cover “rates, the cost of military support and” commercial equity. “
According to the reports, Japan was the sixth largest steel exporter in the United States in 2024, and Japanese car brands constitute four of the eight best selling brands in the US. UU., With Toyota taking first place.
Automobiles are the main exports of Japan to the US, reporting 28.3% of all shipments in 2024, according to customs data.
Imports to the second largest economy in Asia for GDP increased by 2%, compared to the expectations of a 3.1% increase in the Reuters survey.
Japan’s commercial deficit narrowed 544.1 billion yen, but was broader than the expectations of the 485.3 billion yen reuters survey. The deficit in February stood at 590.5 billion yen.
“Japan is no longer the export power that once was,” said Jesper Koll, expert director of the Monex Group financial services firm.
Koll told CNBC that while Yen has been weak, and the fear of rates could boost exports through the frontal load, made in China replaced Japanese exports.
This meanity that “as the commercial wars of Us-China increase, Japan will be injured even when China will be forced to get rid of the capacity it used to sell to the United States in global markets,” he said.