Newly manufactured cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, on March 27, 2025.
Issei Kato | Reuters
Japan’s exports fell less than expected in August, though extending their contraction to a fourth straight month.
Japanese shipments fell 0.1% year on year, compared to a 2.6% fall in July. This was much softer than the 1.9% contraction expected by economists polled by Reuters.
The country’s imports contracted at a softer pace of 5.2%, compared to the 7.4% decline in July, but more than the 4.2% fall expected in the Reuters poll.
Exports to the U.S. dropped 13.8% year on year, steeper than the 10.1% contraction seen in the prior month following a trade deal struck with Washington in late July, which saw tariff rate lowered to 15% from 25%.
The decision comes ahead of the Bank of Japan’s rate decision later on Friday, with economists expecting the central bank to continue to hold rates at 0.5%.
—This is breaking news, please check back for updates.
