AI Data Insight
Japan's Q3 import value MoM growth rate was 3.1701%, turning significantly positive from the previous -8.1804% and strongly reversing the prior declining trend. Benefiting from global AI capital expenditures driving demand for semiconductor equipment, coupled with Middle East geopolitical tensions pushing up import costs for crude oil and others, overall import momentum has strengthened again. Amid an intensifying tug-of-war between domestic and external demand, the high import bill has also caused Japan's trade balance to fall into a deficit for 5 consecutive months.