That dollar amount results from a 4.3% year-over-year advance versus $708 billion in 2024.
From 2021 to 2025, the overall value of Japanese exported goods declined by -2.5% from $757.5 billion over a 5-year timeframe.
Known as the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan is a major economic and political power in Asia. The United States of America was the number one purchaser of Japanese export products during 2025, surpassing mainland China one year prior.
Applying a continental lens, approaching three-fifths (59.2%) of Japan exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 21.7% was sold to North American importers.
Japan shipped another 12.5% worth of goods to buyers located in Europe.
Tinier percentages went to customers in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (2.7%), Oceania (2.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand then Africa (1.4%).
Japan’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of Japan’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most Japanese shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Japanese exports.
- United States: US$137.2 billion (18.6% of total Japanese exports)
- mainland China: $125.6 billion (17%)
- Taiwan: $52.9 billion (7.2%)
- South Korea: $46.5 billion (6.3%)
- Hong Kong: $42.9 billion (5.8%)
- Thailand: $28.2 billion (3.8%)
- Singapore: $21.3 billion (2.9%)
- India: $19.2 billion (2.6%)
- Vietnam: $18.9 billion (2.6%)
- Germany: $18.3 billion (2.5%)
- Australia: $14.9 billion (2%)
- Malaysia: $14.1 billion (1.9%)
- United Arab Emirates: $14.1 billion (1.9%)
- United Kingdom: $13 billion (1.8%)
- Indonesia: $12.6 billion (1.7%)
- Netherlands: $12.2 billion (1.7%)
- Mexico: $12.1 billion (1.6%)
- Canada: $11 billion (1.5%)
- Philippines: $10.4 billion (1.4%)
- Switzerland: $7.4 billion (1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $7.1 billion (1%)
- France: $6.8 billion (0.9%)
- Belgium: $6.2 billion (0.8%)
- Panama: $5.4 billion (0.7%)
- Brazil: $4.9 billion (0.7%)
About nine-tenths (89.8%) of total Japanese exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
Top importers increasing their purchases from Japan at the fastest pace were Switzerland (up 24.3% from 2024), Hong Kong (up 19.2%), Saudi Arabia (up 17.2%), Taiwan (up 16.4%), Panama (up 15.5%) and the United Kingdom (up 14.4%).
The decliners were customers located in Australia (down -6.6% from 2024), United States of America (down -3.1%), Indonesia (down -2.9%), Mexico (down -1.9%) and Canada (down -1.6%).
Countries Causing Worst Japanese Deficits
Japan recorded an overall -US$17.2 billion trade deficit for 2025, reducing by -51.1% compared to -$35.3 billion worth of red ink in 2024.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
In 2025, Japan incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$52.7 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2025)
- Australia: -$30.3 billion
- Saudi Arabia: -$19.1 billion
- United Arab Emirates: -$18.7 billion
- Vietnam: -$11.5 billion
- Italy: -$8.4 billion
- Indonesia: -$7.5 billion
- Chile: -$7 billion
- Ireland: -$6.1 billion
- Qatar: -$5.7 billion
Among Japan’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Japanese deficits with Ireland (up 38.5%), mainland China (up 23.8%) and Vietnam (up 18.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
Countries Generating Best Japanese Surpluses
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
In 2025, Japan incurred the highest trade surpluses at the expense of the following countries.
- United States: US$49.4 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2025)
- Hong Kong: $41 billion
- Taiwan: $19.5 billion
- South Korea: $16.4 billion
- Singapore: $13.7 billion
- India: $12.2 billion
- Netherlands: $8.3 billion
- Panama: $5.1 billion
- Mexico: $5 billion
- United Kingdom: $4.1 billion
Among Japan’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Japanese surpluses with Taiwan (up 31.4%), Hong Kong (up 20.1%) and United Kingdom (up 18.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Japan’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Japan to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing Japanese Trading Partners
According to the Japan Import Export Directory, the following are examples of entrepreneurial companies that ship products from Japan to its trading partners around the globe. Shown within parenthesis is the product category that the Japanese business specializes in.
- Aiza Corporation Japan (consumer electronics)
- Akasaka Diesels Limited (marine engines, generators)
- Aktio Corp. (construction equipment)
- Fuji Latex Co., Ltd. (shock absorbers)
- Japan Algae Co., Ltd. (dietary supplements)
- Kiramek, Inc. (vehicle security products)
- Kyodo Co., Inc. (steel)
- Ochadokoro Sanwa (Japanese Green tea)
- TMO International Limited (gold, gemstones)
- Whn Co., Ltd. (new/used cars)
See also Japan’s Top 10 Imports, Japan’s Top 10 Exports, Top Japanese Trade Balances and Japan’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World FactbookCountry Profiles. Accessed on March 8, 2026
IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Japan Import Export Directory. Accessed on March 8, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 8, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 8, 2026
Investopedia, Net Importer Definition. Accessed on March 8, 2026