The following 10 leading products generated a surplus subtotal of $192.1 billion for Japan in its global trade during 2018. Metrics listed below highlight Japan’s strongest competitive advantages over worldwide trading partners.

1. Cars: US$86.9 billion (Up 10.7% since 2011)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $27 billion (Down -14.5%)
3. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $18.4 billion (Up 1.6%)
4. Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $12.2 billion (Down -52.3%)
5. Heavy machinery (e.g. bulldozers, excavators): $10.4 billion (Down -10.1%)
6. Trucks: $8.8 billion (Down -20.6%)
7. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $7.9 billion (Down -43.9%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $7.5 billion (Down -15.1%)
9. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $6.9 billion (Down -14.4%)
10. Piston engines: $6.2 billion (Up 22.5%)

Japan was able to grow its trade surplus with three of the above products over the latest 7-year period: up 22.5% for piston engines, up 10.7% for cars and up 1.6% with respect to machinery for making semi-conductors.

The 10 major products below accumulated a deficit subtotal of -$236.7 billion for Japan in international trade during 2018. Japan has demonstrated the severest competitive disadvantages in the exports and imports of the following commodities.

1. Crude oil: -US$80.6 billion (Down -43.3% since 2011)
2. Petroleum gases: -$48.9 billion (Down -31.2%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: -$25.4 billion (Down -18%)
4. Phone system devices including smartphones: -$22.2 billion (Up 53.8%)
5. Computers, optical readers: -$13.7 billion (Down -5.4%)
6. Medication mixes in dosage: -$12.5 billion (Up 9.6%)
7. Copper ores, concentrates: -$9.8 billion (Down -14.5%)
8. Iron ores, concentrates: -$9.3 billion (Down -56.6%)
9. Processed petroleum oils: -$7.4 billion (Down -44.1%)
10. Blood fractions (including antisera): -$6.9 billion (Up 59.4%)

Three top products accelerated Japan’s red ink in 2018 since 2011 at the fastest pace: blood fractions including antisera (up 59.4%), phone system devices including smartphones (up 53.8%) and medication mixes in dosage (up 9.6%).

Leading product trade deficit shrinkage for Japan since 2011 were iron ores and concentrates (down -56.6%), processed petroleum oils (down -44.1%) and crude oil (down -43.3%).

In 2018, Japan generated a surplus subtotal worth $172.4 billion with the following 10 trading partners.

1. United States: US$57 billion (Up 10.9% since 2011)
2. Hong Kong: $32.6 billion (Down -21.3%)
3. South Korea: $20.4 billion (Down -22.7%)
4. Taiwan: $15.3 billion (Down -44.9%)
5. Singapore: $13.7 billion (Down -26.4%)
6. Netherlands: $9.5 billion (Down -22.0%)
7. Thailand: $7.2 (Down -44.7%)
8. United Kingdom: $5.8 billion (Down -36.3%)
9. India: $5.5 billion (Up 29.5%)
10. Panama: $5.4 billion (Down -62.8%)

Japan increased its surplus with two of the above-listed countries, specifically a 29.5% gain with India and 10.9% at the expense of the United States.

Panama led the decliners with a -62.8% reduction in Japan’s country-specific surplus over the 7-year period.

Japan lost money in its international trade with 83 countries or territories. Topping the list, the following 10 trade partners created a -$152.8 billion deficit subtotal in 2018 from exchanging exports and imports with Japan.

1. Saudi Arabia: -US$29.7 billion (Down -32.7% since 2011)
2. China: -$29.5 billion (Up 35.3%)
3. Australia: -$28.6 billion (Down -26.5%)
4. United Arab Emirates: -$19.6 billion (Down -44.5%)
5. Qatar: -$13.4 billion (Down -53.8%)
6. Russia: -$8.3 billion (Up 15.0%)
7. Italy: -$6.7 billion (Up 100.6%)
8. Indonesia: -$5.8 billion (Down -64.5%)
9. Ireland: -$5.7 billion (Up 71.7%)
10. Kuwait: -$5.5 billion (Down -53.6%)

Japan’s country-specific deficits increased with four top trade partners namely Italy, Ireland, China and Russia.