The following 10 leading products generated a surplus subtotal of $165.5 billion for Japan in its global trade during 2020. Metrics listed below highlight Japan’s strongest competitive advantages over worldwide trading partners.

1. Cars: US$70.9 billion (Down -12.6% since 2013)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $20.8 billion (Down -26.2%)
3. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $18.8 billion (Up 74.7%)
4. Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $10.5 billion (Down -27.8%)
5. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $10.1 billion (Down -3.4%)
6. Gold (unwrought): $8 billion (Up 133.7%)
7. Heavy machinery (e.g. bulldozers, excavators): $7.7 billion (Down -8.7%)
8. Electrical capacitators: $6.31 billion (Up 57.2%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $6.29 billion (Up 2%)
10. Trucks: $6.1 billion (Down -37.8%)

Japan was able to grow its trade surplus with 4 of the above products over the latest 7-year period: up 133.7% for gold, up 74.7% for machinery for making semi-conductors, up 57.2% for electrical capacitators and up 2% with respect to miscellaneous machinery.

The 10 major products below accumulated a deficit subtotal of -$178.6 billion for Japan in international trade during 2020. Japan has demonstrated the severest competitive disadvantages in the exports and imports of the following commodities.

1. Crude oil: -US$43.4 billion (Down -70.2% since 2013)
2. Petroleum gases: -$34 billion (Down -59.1%)
3. Phone system devices including smartphones: -$22.4 billion (Up 1.2%)
4. Computers, optical readers: -$18.1 billion (Up 26.2%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: -$15.9 billion (Down -32.6%)
6. Medication mixes in dosage: -$12 billion (Down -6.4%)
7. Iron ores, concentrates: -$9.6 billion (Down -44.7%)
8. Copper ores, concentrates: -$9.3 billion (Down -12.6%)
9. Blood fractions (including antisera): -$8.4 billion (Up 98.1%)
10. Processed petroleum oils: -$5.5 billion (Down -55%)

Three top products grew in terms of Japan’s red ink from 2013 to 2020 namely blood fractions including antisera (up 98.1%), computers including optical readers (up 26.2%) and phone system devices including smartphones (up 1.2%).

Leading product trade deficit shrinkage for Japan since 2013 were crude oil (down -70.2%), petroleum gases (down -59.1%) then refined petroleum oils (down -55%).

In 2020, Japan generated a surplus subtotal worth $147.3 billion with the following 10 trading partners.

1. United States: US$47.2 billion (Down -24.6% since 2013)
2. Hong Kong: $31.2 billion (Down -12.8%)
3. South Korea: $18.1 billion (Down -12.5%)
4. Taiwan: $17.7 billion (Down -1.1%)
5. Singapore: $9.1 billion (Down -32.4%)
6. Netherlands: $7.8 billion (Down -17.0%)
7. United Kingdom: $4.42 billion (Down -2.5%)
8. India: $4.39 billion 0 (Up 188.8%)
9. Panama: $4.1 billion (Down -56.2%)
10. Belgium: $3.3 billion (Up 18.1%)

Japan increased its surplus with two among the above-listed countries, namely India thanks to a 188.8% gain and Belgium via an 18.1% increase.

Panama (down -56.2%), Singapore (down -32.4%), United States (down -24.6%) and Netherlands (down -17%) led the reductions in Japan’s country-specific surpluses over the 7-year period.

Japan lost money in its international trade with 80 countries or territories. Topping the list, the following 10 trade partners created a -$108 billion deficit subtotal in 2020 from exchanging exports and imports with Japan.

1. Australia: -US$23.5 billion (Down -31.1% since 2013)
2. China: -$22.4 billion (Down -56.6%)
3. Saudi Arabia: -$14.2 billion (Down -67%)
4. United Arab Emirates: -$10.8 billion (Down -68.3%)
5. Qatar: -$8.1 billion (Down -77.2%)
6. Italy: -$6.7 billion (Up 7.1%)
7. Indonesia: -$6.2 billion (Down -47.6%)
8. Ireland: -$5.6 billion (Up 115.6%)
9. Chile: -$5.5 billion (Down -12.3%)
10. Vietnam: -$4.9 billion (Up 33.7%)

Japan’s country-specific deficits increased with three among its top trade partners over the 7-year period, namely Ireland, Vietnam and Italy.