Japan Hits Record Highs in Foreign Trade Driven by Energy Costs and Tech Exports

21:24 - 20.08.2026


August 20, Fineko/abc.az. Rising energy prices and a weaker yen have driven Japan’s trade activity to all-time high levels. Imports surged by 27.8% year-on-year to 12.1 trillion yen ($76.39 billion) in July, fueled by an 87.8% jump in the total value of crude oil imports as the nation shifted toward alternative supply sources, including the US.

Concurrently, Japanese exports rose by 23.2% year-on-year to 11.5 trillion yen, surpassing market expectations. The surge in exports was primarily driven by global demand for semiconductors linked to artificial intelligence investments and data centers, alongside a depreciated yen that boosted the price competitiveness of Japanese products globally.