Tokyo, September 16 (QNA) - Japan's trade deficit widened sharply in August 2026, as imports grew at a faster pace than exports, driven by a significant rise in the value of energy and electronic component imports.
Data from Japan's Ministry of Finance showed that the trade deficit reached 1.106 trillion yen ($7.12 billion) in August, compared to 294.1 billion yen in the same month last year, marking the fourth consecutive month of deficit, representing the largest trade deficit since January.
Imports rose by 28% year-on-year to reach 11.154 trillion yen, while exports increased by 19.3% to approximately 10.048 trillion yen.
The rise in imports was driven primarily by an increase in the value of energy imports. Crude oil imports surged by 58.7%, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose by 29.7%, contributing to the increase in the import bill for the month.
Data show that export growth was insufficient to offset the sharper rise in import value, resulting in a widening trade deficit in August, at a time when energy costs and global supply chain disruptions continued to play a major role in Japan's foreign trade. (QNA)