Kids Web Japan

Q. What are Japan's main exports and imports?

A.

Japan's trade used to be marked by imports of raw materials and energy resources, which were used to manufacture industrial products for export. But recently, manufactured imports have been increasing. This is because the Japanese are buying more foreign goods, whose prices have come down due to the strong yen, and because import-promotion policies have been adopted to correct the trade imbalance.

The total value of imports in 2005 was �56.95 trillion ($516.7 billion), against �65.66 trillion ($595.7 billion) for exports. The main export items were cars and other transport equipment, accounting for 23.1% of the total. Other major export categories were electrical machinery (22.2%) and other machineries (20.3%), including computers. Manufactured imports, including computers and cars, accounted for 58.5% of all imports in 2005 by value. Petroleum and other mineral fuels accounted for 25.6%, foodstuffs for 9.8%, and raw materials for 6.2%.

Japanese are now surrounded by imports in the things they wear and use every day: their clothing and footwear, tables, sofas and other furniture, carpets, china, bags and accessories, stationery, toys, and countless other items.

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Source: Japan Tariff Association, Summary Report on Trade of Japan