AI Data Insight
Japan's latest total export growth rate for Q1 2026 reached 11.7% year-over-year, jumping significantly from the previous 4.2% and exceeding market expectations of 11%. Benefiting from the explosive global demand for AI, exports of semiconductor equipment and ICs to China and Taiwan grew strongly. Despite concerns brought by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, the dual tailwinds of a weak yen and the tech cycle still drove Japan's export volume to a new record high.