AI Data Insight
Japan's latest released Q1 2026 (February) total exports reached 9.57 trillion yen, an increase of about 4.18% compared to the previous data, and a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, strongly beating market expectations. Despite the declines in exports to China and the U.S. affected by the Lunar New Year and the U.S. imposing additional tariffs on automobiles, the solid demand from Europe and the support of significant yen depreciation successfully drove the trade balance to reverse into a surplus. Looking ahead, Middle East geopolitics pushing up oil prices and the Bank of Japan's policy direction will be the key variables affecting future import and export performance.