Japan Times TechMay 21, 2026May 21, 2026, 13:00 JST1 min read

Japan's trade surplus reached ¥301.9 billion ($1.9 billion) in April, defying analyst forecasts of a deficit, as exports surged and energy imports fell sharply.

3 Key Points

Japan's trade balance in April was a ¥301.9 billion ($1.9 billion) surplus on an unadjusted basis, according to the Finance Ministry. Analysts had forecast a ¥44.5 billion deficit.
The value of exports rose 14.8% in April from a year earlier, while the value of imports gained 9.7%. The trade surplus was driven by strong exports and a sharp drop in energy imports.
Japan's trade balance remained in the black for a third consecutive month.

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