Description
Japan Trade Balance: Current Month Value is released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). This indicator measures the difference between the value of merchandise exports and imports during a given month. A positive trade balance signifies a trade surplus, meaning exports exceeded imports, which can be a sign of economic strength. Conversely, a negative trade balance represents a trade deficit, meaning imports surpassed exports, which can be a sign of economic weakness.
The trade balance is calculated by subtracting the total value of imports from the total value of exports for the month. These figures are collected from customs data and other relevant sources.
The data is updated monthly and is typically released around the 20th of the following month.