Japan’s exports rose by 5.1% in December, falling short of forecasts, as sales to the United States dropped sharply

Japan’s Export Growth Slows in December 2025

In December 2025, Japan's export growth fell short of market expectations, increasing by 5.1% compared to the previous year. This was below the 6.1% growth rate predicted by analysts surveyed by Reuters, and was largely due to a significant drop in shipments to the United States.

Throughout the first half of 2025, Japanese exports generally declined, impacted by concerns over tariffs. However, the situation improved later in the year following the announcement of a new trade agreement with the U.S., which reduced tariffs to 15% and helped exports recover.

Despite this rebound, exports to the U.S. in December dropped by 11.1%, reversing the 8.8% increase seen in November. Meanwhile, imports for December climbed 5.1% year over year, marking a notable rise from previous months.