Japan posted a current account surplus of 34.52 trillion yen (about 327.68 trillion won) last year, marking a record-high surplus for the third straight year.
According to Japanese media including the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 13th, "based on the 2025 balance of payments statistics (preliminary figures) released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, the country's current account surplus — earned through trade in goods and services and investments with foreign countries — expanded 15 percent from 2024, setting a record high for the third consecutive year." The reports added, "The trade balance swung back to a surplus for the first time in five years as semiconductor-related exports grew on the back of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry boom, contributing to the current account surplus."
Japan's trade balance recorded a deficit of 3.03 trillion yen (about 28.7 trillion won) in 2024, but swung to a surplus of 1.36 trillion yen (about 12.9 trillion won) last year. Total exports reached 111.35 trillion yen (about 1,055.7 trillion won), with shipments of semiconductors and electronic components to Asia rising 3.3 percent from the previous year, driving overall export growth.
Total imports came to 109.98 trillion yen (about 1,042.8 trillion won), down 0.8 percent. Last year preceded the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, and stable energy prices for oil and coal pulled down import values.
