Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Economy

Japan’s exports expand 2.8% in Dec, faster-than-expected

By Makiko Yamazaki

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s exports rose for a third straight month in December, data showed on Thursday, suggesting that companies front-loaded shipments ahead of potentially hefty tariffs promised by new U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has signalled plans to deploy tariffs on imports from major trading partners China, Canada and Mexico, raising fears that increasingly protectionist U.S. trade policies could dampen and disrupt global shipments.

Japan’s exports rose 2.8% in December from a year earlier, data showed, more than a median market forecast for a 2.3% increase and following a 3.8% rise in the previous month.

Exports to China, Japan’s biggest trading partner, fell 3% in December from a year earlier, while those to the United States were down 2.1%.

Imports rose 1.8% in December on-year, compared with market forecasts for a 2.6% increase and a decline of 3.8% in November.

As a result, Japan ran a trade a surplus of 130.9 billion yen ($836.80 million) in December, compared with the forecast of a deficit of 53 billion yen.

For the whole of 2024, Japan logged a trade deficit of 5.3 trillion yen, marking four consecutive years of deficits but shrinking from the previous year’s 9.52 trillion yen.

Emerging signs of sustained wage growth and expectations it would boost consumption are seen supporting the case for the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates this week.

But the outlook for external demand is increasingly uncertain, as Trump’s tariff plans could upend international trade and hold back China’s economic recovery.

A recent survey by the Japan External Trade Organization showed that most Japanese companies with operations in the United States are preparing for possible additional tariffs.

Those efforts include strengthening manufacturing and procurement in the U.S. and considering product price hikes, according to the survey.

($1 = 156.4300 yen)

This post appeared first on investing.com

    Fill Out & Get More Relevant News


    Stay ahead of the market and unlock exclusive trading insights & timely news. We value your privacy - your information is secure, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Gain an edge with hand-picked trading opportunities, stay informed with market-moving updates, and learn from expert tips & strategies.

    You May Also Like

    Investing

    Newmont (NYSE: NEM) reported mixed financial results even as the price of gold approached its all-time high. In all, the company’s earnings per share...

    Investing

    Fisker (NYSE: FSR) stock price has been one of the best-performing electric vehicle (EV) stocks this week even as Tesla slumped. The shares jumped...

    Investing

    The Fox Corporation (NASDAQ: FOX) stock price has been under pressure as investors come to terms with the abrupt firing of Tucker Carlson. The...

    Investing

    NatWest (LON: NWG) share price rose sharply, helped by the strong results from Barclays. The stock jumped to a high of 274.8p, which was...




    Disclaimer: Oldamericanbroker.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the-company.


    Copyright © 2025 Oldamericanbroker.com