That dollar amount reflects a -1.7% year-over-year slowdown compared to $719.8 billion in 2023.
From 2020 to 2024, the overall value of Japanese exported goods grew by 10.4% from $641 billion.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Japanese yen fell by -6.7% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Japan’s weaker local currency made exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive in 2024 for countries startling from the stronger US dollar.
Japan’s 5 biggest export products by value in 2024 were cars, electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies, semiconductor-making machinery, automotive parts or accessories, and unwrought gold. In aggregate, that quintet of major exports generated 30% of overall export sales from Japan. That group of commodities suggests a relatively diversified range of exported goods.
Japan ranks among world-leading nations for exporting cars and automotive parts or accessories and is a major competitor among Asian nations in the international trade of electronic circuits.
Japan’s Best International Trade Customers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 73.8% of products exported from Japan were bought by importers in: United States (20% of the Japanese total), mainland China (17.6%), South Korea (6.6%), Taiwan (6.4%), Hong Kong (5.1%), Thailand (3.8%), Singapore (2.8%), Germany (2.46%), India (2.44%), Vietnam (2.41%), Australia (2.3%) and Malaysia (2%).
From a continental perspective, 57.8% of Japan exports by value was delivered to fellow Asian countries while 23.3% was sold to North American importers.
Japan shipped another 12.3% worth of goods to customers located in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to buyers in Oceania led by Australia and New Zealand (2.8%), Latin America (2.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Africa (1.2%).
Given Japan’s population of 123.9 million people, its total $707.3 billion worth of exported products in 2024 translates to roughly $5,700 for every resident in the East Asian island nation. That per-capita dollar amount is less than the average per-capita amount of $5,800 one year earlier in 2023.
Japan’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in Japanese global shipments during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Japan.
- Vehicles: US$150.8 billion (21.3% of total exports)
- Machinery including computers: $125.7 billion (17.8%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $101.1 billion (14.3%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $36.2 billion (5.1%)
- Iron, steel: $27.4 billion (3.9%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $24.7 billion (3.5%)
- Gems, precious metals: $23 billion (3.2%)
- Organic chemicals: $14.3 billion (2%)
- Copper: $13.4 billion (1.9%)
- Other chemical goods: $13.2 billion (1.9%)
Japan’s top 10 export product categories generated 74.9% of the overall value of its global shipments.
Gems and precious metals represent the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 23.9% since 2023.
In second place for improving export sales was copper which was up by 6.9%.
Japan’s shipments of miscellaneous chemical goods posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 5.4% year over year.
The leading decliner among Japan’s top 10 export categories were the metals iron and steel, which fell -10.4%
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Japan’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Searchable List of Japan’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Japan during 2024.
Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2023.
| Rank | Japan's Export Product | Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | $106,628,024,000 | -3.9% |
| 2 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $32,488,932,000 | +5% |
| 3 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $29,701,229,000 | +17.7% |
| 4 | Automobile parts/accessories | $25,850,145,000 | -5.1% |
| 5 | Gold (unwrought) | $17,862,013,000 | +42.9% |
| 6 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $11,273,656,000 | -16.8% |
| 7 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $9,514,390,000 | -1.1% |
| 8 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $8,869,587,000 | -12.3% |
| 9 | Trucks | $8,790,978,000 | -6.7% |
| 10 | Printing machinery | $8,085,164,000 | +4.8% |
| 11 | Processed petroleum oils | $7,886,800,000 | -23.5% |
| 12 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $7,468,403,000 | -6.4% |
| 13 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $6,801,278,000 | +11.7% |
| 14 | Miscellaneous machinery | $6,491,005,000 | -15% |
| 15 | Electrical capacitators | $6,416,544,000 | +3.7% |
| 16 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $5,978,041,000 | -3.5% |
| 17 | Other measuring/testing machines | $5,836,131,000 | +6.1% |
| 18 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $5,792,110,000 | -1.9% |
| 19 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $5,664,239,000 | +9.3% |
| 20 | Piston engine parts | $5,645,971,000 | -2.1% |
| 21 | Air or vacuum pumps | $5,206,048,000 | +1.5% |
| 22 | Rubber tires (new) | $5,166,832,000 | -6.9% |
| 23 | Electric storage batteries | $5,026,256,000 | +2.4% |
| 24 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $5,001,727,000 | -9.9% |
| 25 | Regulate/control instruments | $4,752,001,000 | -5.3% |
| 26 | Turbo-jets | $4,642,190,000 | +5.8% |
| 27 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $4,556,849,000 | +17.4% |
| 28 | Electrical converters/power units | $4,538,997,000 | -5.8% |
| 29 | Chemicals used in electronics | $4,477,185,000 | -1.7% |
| 30 | Medication mixes in dosage | $4,390,657,000 | -2.4% |
| 31 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $4,294,573,000 | -0.8% |
| 32 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $4,081,100,000 | -4.5% |
| 33 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $4,036,333,000 | -9.1% |
| 34 | Piston engines | $3,955,491,000 | -22.1% |
| 35 | Electric motors, generators | $3,518,579,000 | -0.2% |
| 36 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $3,485,126,000 | +2.7% |
| 37 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $3,471,671,000 | -6.8% |
| 38 | Photographic chemicals | $3,317,787,000 | +14.6% |
| 39 | Motorcycles | $3,305,772,000 | -5.8% |
| 40 | Ball, roller bearings | $3,293,169,000 | -8.1% |
| 41 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $3,262,686,000 | -3.3% |
| 42 | Electrical machinery | $3,236,853,000 | +0.5% |
| 43 | Engines (diesel) | $3,137,966,000 | -16.6% |
| 44 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $3,036,678,000 | -5% |
| 45 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $2,999,022,000 | +0.9% |
| 46 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $2,790,859,000 | -23.4% |
| 47 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $2,776,414,000 | -9.9% |
| 48 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $2,636,478,000 | +8.6% |
| 49 | Iron or steel scrap | $2,625,286,000 | -15% |
| 50 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $2,579,139,000 | -6% |
| 51 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $2,560,189,000 | -2.7% |
| 52 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $2,548,283,000 | -0.5% |
| 53 | Printed circuits | $2,544,806,000 | -4.6% |
| 54 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $2,499,811,000 | +7% |
| 55 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $2,472,267,000 | +4.3% |
| 56 | Copper waste, scrap | $2,426,479,000 | -1.5% |
| 57 | Oxometal/peroxometal acid salts | $2,391,822,000 | -22% |
| 58 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $2,325,491,000 | -8.9% |
| 59 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $2,304,788,000 | -3.4% |
| 60 | Public-transport vehicles | $2,257,700,000 | -1.8% |
| 61 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $2,155,312,000 | -13.3% |
| 62 | Metal-working machinery | $2,122,007,000 | -15.5% |
| 63 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $2,117,161,000 | -15.6% |
| 64 | Synthetic rubber | $2,115,312,000 | +3.6% |
| 65 | Table games, bowling equipment | $2,104,754,000 | -23.6% |
| 66 | Phone devices including smartphones | $2,097,698,000 | -13.3% |
| 67 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors | $2,075,104,000 | +0.2% |
| 68 | Aircraft, spacecraft parts | $2,014,390,000 | -3.4% |
| 69 | Machinery parts | $2,000,938,000 | -10.2% |
| 70 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1,970,898,000 | -3.4% |
| 71 | X-ray equipment | $1,819,958,000 | +4.8% |
| 72 | Insulated wire/cable | $1,817,800,000 | -2.1% |
| 73 | Precious metal compounds | $1,811,707,000 | -12.9% |
| 74 | Copper foil | $1,728,347,000 | +10.7% |
| 75 | Flat panel displays | $1,681,594,000 | -6.7% |
| 76 | Electric motor parts | $1,669,419,000 | +1.4% |
| 77 | Temperature-change machines | $1,651,733,000 | -5.2% |
| 78 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1,646,415,000 | +8.1% |
| 79 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $1,586,342,000 | -6.7% |
| 80 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $1,550,818,000 | +7.4% |
| 81 | Tractors | $1,544,862,000 | -10.5% |
| 82 | Silver (unwrought) | $1,493,278,000 | +0.8% |
| 83 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $1,427,734,000 | -10.1% |
| 84 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $1,418,089,000 | -7.2% |
| 85 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $1,368,819,000 | -10.1% |
| 86 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $1,333,350,000 | +1.4% |
| 87 | Metal-removing lathes | $1,331,424,000 | -17% |
| 88 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $1,327,339,000 | -9.5% |
| 89 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $1,310,518,000 | +3.5% |
| 90 | Copper plates, sheets, strips | $1,292,615,000 | +4.8% |
| 91 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $1,283,917,000 | +12.2% |
| 92 | Vulcanized rubber items | $1,274,928,000 | -1.7% |
| 93 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $1,266,259,000 | -11.7% |
| 94 | Computers, optical readers | $1,262,931,000 | -16.3% |
| 95 | Platinum (unwrought) | $1,257,868,000 | -11.6% |
| 96 | Acrylic polymers | $1,252,318,000 | +7.7% |
| 97 | Lubricants, cutting oils | $1,206,109,000 | +3.6% |
| 98 | Derricks, cranes | $1,176,727,000 | +1.8% |
| 99 | Photographic plates/film, unexposed | $1,147,005,000 | +5.3% |
| 100 | Other machine parts, accessories | $1,146,861,000 | -11.1% |
These 100 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$518.3 billion or 73.3% by value for all products exported from Japan during 2024.
Products Generating Best Trade Surpluses for Japan
The following types of Japanese product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus for 2024. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Vehicles: US$127.8 billion (Down by -3.7% since 2023)
- Machinery including computers: $52.9 billion (Down by -12.6%)
- Iron, steel: $19.4 billion (Down by -12.6%)
- Copper: $10 billion (Up by 6.1%)
- Ships, boats: $9.4 billion (Up by 1.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $8.9 billion (Up by 19.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $8.6 billion (Up by 13.8%)
- Gems, precious metals: $7.8 billion (Up by 117.6%)
- Other chemical goods: $6.4 billion (Up by 18.8%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $5.1 billion (Down by -10.7%)
Japan has notably positive net exports in the international trade of automobiles thanks to world-leading automotive manufacturers including Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. In turn, these cashflows indicate Japan’s strong competitive advantages under the vehicles product category.
Products Causing Worst Trade Deficits for Japan
Japan incurred an overall -US$35.6 billion trade deficit for 2024, reducing by -46.5% compared to -$66.5 billion in red ink in 2023.
Below are exports from Japan that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Japan’s goods trail Japanese importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$158.9 billion (Down by -12.9% since 2023)
- Ores, slag, ash: -$27.6 billion (Up by 5.4%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$22.5 billion (Down by -3.1%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$11.6 billion (Down by -1.5%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$10.6 billion (Down by -6.4%)
- Meat: -$10 billion (Up by 5.3%)
- Wood: -$9.3 billion (Down by -3.7%)
- Fish: -$8 billion (Down by -5.3%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$6.9 billion (Down by -2.5%)
- Cereals: -$6.6 billion (Down by -17.8%)
Japan has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for energy products notably crude oil, petroleum gases and coal.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Japan’s competitive disadvantages in the international fossil fuel market, but also represent key opportunities for Japan to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations for energy-related products.
Japanese Export Companies
Wikipedia lists many of the larger international trade players from Japan.
- Toyota Motor (cars, trucks)
- Japan Tobacco (tobacco)
- Denso (automotive parts)
- Canon (business products, supplies)
- Takeda Pharmaceutical (pharmaceuticals)
- Hitachi (electronics)
- Fanuc (industrial products)
- Panasonic (electronics)
- Astellas Pharma (pharmaceuticals)
- Nippon Steel (iron, steel)
- Mitsubishi Electric (electrical equipment)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are also examples of leading Japanese exporters.
- Honda Motor (vehicles, automotive parts)
- Nissan Motor (vehicles, automotive parts)
- Kubota (tractors, excavators, other heavy equipment)
In macroeconomic terms, Japan’s total exported goods represent 10.8% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2024 ($6.572 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 10.8% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2024 is lower than the 11% for 2023. Those percentages suggest Japan’s relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for Japan’s total economic performance.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. Japan’s unemployment rate averaged 2.5% for 2024, down from an average 2.567% jobless rate for 2023 according to metrics from the International Monetary Fund.
See also Japan’s Top 10 Imports, Japan’s Top Trading Partners, Top Japanese Trade Balances and Japan’s Top 10 Major Export Companies
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World FactbookCountry Profiles. Accessed on February 14, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 14, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 14, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 14, 2025
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on February 14, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Japan. Accessed on February 14, 2025
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on February 14, 2025
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on February 14, 2025
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Japanese Yen to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on February 14, 2025
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on February 14, 2025