Japan JPY

Japan Balance of Trade

Info

History

Chart

Impact:

High

Source: Ministry of Finance, Japan

Latest Release:

Date:

Surprise:

¥-342.9B

JPY

Actual:

¥-115.8B

Forecast: ¥227.1B

Previous/Revision:

¥559.4B

Period: Apr

Next Release:

Date:

Period: May

What Does It Measure?

The Balance of Trade (BoT) measures the difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services over a specific period. It focuses primarily on trade dynamics, providing insights into a country's international economic standing, currency strength, and overall economic health.

Frequency

The Balance of Trade is released on a monthly basis, with the data typically published around the 20th of each month, reflecting the trade figures from the previous month.

Why Do Traders Care?

Traders monitor the Balance of Trade closely as it indicates the strength of a country's economy and can influence currency valuations, especially for the Japanese Yen (JPY). A trade surplus is generally considered bullish for the currency, while a trade deficit may have bearish implications, impacting economic forecasts and investment decisions.

What Is It Derived From?

The Balance of Trade is derived from customs data, which is collected from import and export invoices and shipping documents, capturing a comprehensive snapshot of trade activity. It aggregates data from various sectors, assessing contributions from manufacturers, service providers, and other economic actors involved in international trade.

Description

The Balance of Trade is reported as a net figure, showing either a surplus, where exports exceed imports, or a deficit, where imports surpass exports. Traders primarily consider the monthly data as it provides timely insights into current economic conditions, revealing trends that can inform market expectations and sentiment.

Additional Notes

The Balance of Trade serves as a coincident economic indicator, reflecting immediate changes in trade relationships and economic policies. It is often compared with other indicators such as GDP growth rates and PMI data to provide a broader understanding of economic performance and international competitiveness.

Bullish or Bearish for Currency and Stocks

Higher than expected: Bullish for JPY, Bullish for Stocks. Lower than expected: Bearish for JPY, Bearish for Stocks.

Legend

High Potential Impact
This event has a strong potential to move markets significantly. If the 'Actual' value differs enough from the forecast or if the 'Previous' value is significantly revised, it signals new information that markets may rapidly adjust to.

Medium Potential Impact
This event may cause moderate market movement, especially if the 'Actual' deviates from the forecast or there's a notable revision to the 'Previous' value.

Low Potential Impact
This event is unlikely to affect market pricing unless there's an unexpected surprise or a major revision to prior data.

Surprise - Currency May Strengthen
Actual deviated from Forecast on a medium or high impact event and historically could strengthen the currency.

Surprise - Currency May Weaken
Actual deviated from Forcast on a medium or high impact event and historically could weaken the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Strengthen
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely strengthen the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Weaken
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely weaken the currency

Green Number	Better than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Red Number	Worse than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Hawkish	Supports higher interest rates to fight inflation, strengthening the currency but weighing on stocks.
Dovish	Favors lower rates to boost growth, weakening the currency but lifting stocks.

Date	Actual	Forecast	Previous	Surprise
May 20, 2025	¥-115.8B	¥227.1B	¥559.4B	¥-342.9B
Apr 16, 2025	¥544.1B	¥485.3B	¥590.5B	¥58.8B
Mar 18, 2025	¥584.5B	¥722.8B	¥-2736.6B	¥-138.3B
Feb 18, 2025	¥-2758.8B	¥-2100B	¥132.5B	¥-658.8B
Jan 22, 2025	¥130.9B	¥-55B	¥-110.3B	¥185.9B
Dec 17, 2024	¥-117.6B	¥-688.9B	¥-461.2B	¥571.3B
Nov 19, 2024	¥-461.2B	¥-360.4B	¥-294.1B	¥-100.8B
Oct 16, 2024	¥-294.3B	¥-237.6B	¥-703.2B	¥-56.7B
Sep 17, 2024	¥-695.3B	¥-1380B	¥-628.7B	¥684.7B
Aug 20, 2024	¥-621.8B	¥-330.7B	¥224B	¥-291.1B
Jul 17, 2024	¥224B	¥-240B	¥-1220.1B	¥464B
Jun 18, 2024	¥-1221.3B	¥-1300B	¥-465.6B	¥78.7B
May 21, 2024	¥-462.5B	¥-339.5B	¥366.5B	¥-123B
Apr 16, 2024	¥366.5B	¥-280B	¥-377.8B	¥646.5B
Mar 20, 2024	¥-379.4B	¥-810.2B	¥-1760.3B	¥430.8B
Feb 20, 2024	¥-1758.3B	¥-1925.9B	¥68.9B	¥167.6B
Jan 23, 2024	¥62.1B	¥-122.1B	¥-780.4B	¥184.2B
Dec 19, 2023	¥-776.9B	¥-962.4B	¥-661B	¥185.5B
Nov 15, 2023	¥-662.5B	¥-735.7B	¥72.1B	¥73.2B
Oct 18, 2023	¥62.4B	¥-425B	¥-937.8B	¥487.4B
Sep 19, 2023	¥-930.5B	¥-659.1B	¥-66.3B	¥-271.4B
Aug 16, 2023	¥-78.7B	¥24.6B	¥43.1B	¥-103.3B
Jul 19, 2023	¥43B	¥-46.7B	¥-1381.9B	¥89.7B
Jun 14, 2023	¥-1372.5B	¥-1331.9B	¥-432.3B	¥-40.6B
May 17, 2023	¥-432.4B	¥-613.8B	¥-755.1B	¥181.4B
Apr 19, 2023	¥-754.5B	¥-1294.8B	¥-898.1B	¥540.3B
Mar 15, 2023	¥-897.7B	¥-1069.4B	¥-3498.6B	¥171.7B
Feb 15, 2023	¥-3496.6B	¥-3871.5B	¥-1451.8B	¥374.9B
Jan 18, 2023	¥-1448.5B	¥-1652.8B	¥-2029B	¥204.3B
Dec 14, 2022	¥-2027.4B	¥-1680.3B	¥-2166.2B	¥-347.1B
Nov 16, 2022	¥-2162.3B	¥-1610B	¥-2094.3B	¥-552.3B
Oct 19, 2022	¥-2094B	¥-2167.4B	¥-2820B	¥73.4B
Sep 14, 2022	¥-2817.3B	¥-2398.2B	¥-1436.8B	¥-419.1B
Aug 16, 2022	¥-1436.8B	¥-1405B	¥-1398.5B	¥-31.8B
Jul 20, 2022	¥-1383.8B	¥-1509.7B	¥-2385.8B	¥125.9B
Jun 15, 2022	¥-2384.7B	¥-2022.6B	¥-842.8B	¥-362.1B
May 18, 2022	¥-839.2B	¥-1150B	¥-414.1B	¥310.8B
Apr 19, 2022	¥-412.4B	¥-100.8B	¥-669.7B	¥-311.6B
Mar 15, 2022	¥-668.3B	¥-112.6B	¥-2193.5B	¥-555.7B
Feb 16, 2022	¥-2191.1B	¥-1607B	¥-583.3B	¥-584.1B
Jan 19, 2022	¥-582.4B	¥-784.1B	¥-955.6B	¥201.7B
Dec 15, 2021	¥-954.8B	¥-675B	¥-68.5B	¥-279.8B
Nov 16, 2021	¥-67.4B	¥-310B	¥-624.1B	¥242.6B
Oct 19, 2021	¥-622.8B	¥-519.2B	¥-637.2B	¥-103.6B
Sep 15, 2021	¥-635.4B	¥-47.7B	¥439.4B	¥-587.7B
Aug 17, 2021	¥441B	¥202.3B	¥384B	¥238.7B
Jul 20, 2021	¥383.2B	¥460B	¥-189.4B	¥-76.8B
Jun 15, 2021	¥-187.1B	¥-91.2B	¥253.1B	¥-95.9B
May 19, 2021	¥255.3B	¥140B	¥662.2B	¥115.3B
Apr 18, 2021	¥663.7B	¥490B	¥215.9B	¥173.7B
Mar 16, 2021	¥217.4B	¥420B	¥-325.4B	¥-202.6B
Feb 16, 2021	¥-323.9B	¥-600B	¥749.6B	¥276.1B
Jan 20, 2021	¥751B	¥942.8B	¥366.8B	¥-191.8B
Dec 15, 2020	¥366.8B	¥529.8B	¥871.7B	¥-163B
Nov 17, 2020	¥872.9B	¥250B	¥687.8B	¥622.9B
Oct 18, 2020	¥675B	¥989.8B	¥248.6B	¥-314.8B
Sep 15, 2020	¥248.3B	¥-37.5B	¥10.9B	¥285.8B
Aug 18, 2020	¥11.6B	¥-77.6B	¥-269.3B	¥89.2B
Jul 19, 2020	¥-268.8B	¥-35.8B	¥-838.2B	¥-233B
Jun 16, 2020	¥-833.4B	¥-970.8B	¥-931.9B	¥137.4B
May 20, 2020	¥-930B	¥-560B	¥5.4B	¥-370B
Apr 19, 2020	¥4.9B	¥420B	¥1108.8B	¥-415.1B
Mar 17, 2020	¥1109.8B	¥917.2B	¥-1313.2B	¥192.6B
Feb 18, 2020	¥-1312.6B	¥-1694.9B	¥-154.6B	¥382.3B
Jan 22, 2020	¥-152.5B	¥-150B	¥-85.2B	¥-2.5B
Dec 17, 2019	¥-82.1B	¥-369B	¥15.7B	¥286.9B
Nov 19, 2019	¥17.3B	¥301B	¥-124.8B	¥-283.7B
Oct 20, 2019	¥-123B	¥54B	¥-143.5B	¥-177B
Sep 17, 2019	¥-136.3B	¥-355.9B	¥-250.7B	¥219.6B
Aug 18, 2019	¥-249.6B	¥-200B	¥589.6B	¥-49.6B
Jul 17, 2019	¥589.5B	¥420B	¥-968.3B	¥169.5B
Jun 18, 2019	¥-967.1B	¥-979.2B	¥56.8B	¥12.1B
May 21, 2019	¥60.4B	¥203.2B	¥527.8B	¥-142.8B
Apr 16, 2019	¥529B	¥372.2B	¥335B	¥156.8B
Mar 17, 2019	¥339B	¥310.2B	¥-1416B	¥28.8B
Feb 19, 2019	¥-1415B	¥-1011B	¥-57B	¥-404B
Jan 22, 2019	¥-55B	¥-29.5B	¥-738B	¥-25.5B
Dec 18, 2018	¥-737B	¥-600.3B	¥-450B	¥-136.7B
Nov 18, 2018	¥-449B	¥-70B	¥131B	¥-379B
Oct 17, 2018	¥140B	¥-50B	¥-438B	¥190B
Sep 18, 2018	¥-445B	¥-468.7B	¥-232B	¥23.7B
Aug 15, 2018	¥-231B	¥-50B	¥721B	¥-181B
Jul 18, 2018	¥721B	¥534.2B	¥-581B	¥186.8B
Jun 17, 2018	¥-578B	¥-235B	¥625B	¥-343B
May 20, 2018	¥626B	¥405.6B	¥797B	¥220.4B
Apr 17, 2018	¥797B	¥498B	¥3B	¥299B
Mar 18, 2018	¥3B	¥-100B	¥-944B	¥103B
Feb 18, 2018	¥-943B	¥-1002B	¥359B	¥59B
Jan 23, 2018	¥359B	¥530B	¥112B	¥-171B
Dec 17, 2017	¥113B	¥-55B	¥285B	¥168B
Nov 19, 2017	¥285.4B	¥330B	¥668B	¥-44.6B
Oct 18, 2017	¥670B	¥559.8B	¥112.6B	¥110.2B
Sep 19, 2017	¥113.6B	¥94B	¥422B	¥19.6B
Aug 16, 2017	¥419B	¥392B	¥440B	¥27B
Jul 19, 2017	¥440B	¥484.7B	¥-203.4B	¥-44.7B
Jun 18, 2017	¥-203B	¥76B	¥482B	¥-279B
May 21, 2017	¥482B	¥520.7B	¥615B	¥-38.7B
Apr 19, 2017	¥615B	¥575.8B	¥813.4B	¥39.2B
Mar 21, 2017	¥813.4B	¥822B	¥-1087B	¥-8.6B
Feb 19, 2017	¥-1087B	¥-636.8B	¥641.4B	¥-450.2B
Jan 24, 2017	¥641.4B	¥270B	¥153B	¥371.4B
Dec 18, 2016	¥153B	¥227.4B	¥496.2B	¥-74.4B
Nov 20, 2016	¥496.2B	¥615.4B	¥498B	¥-119.2B
Oct 23, 2016	¥498B	¥341.8B	¥-18.7B	¥156.2B
Sep 20, 2016	¥-18.7B	¥202.3B	¥513.5B	¥-221B
Aug 17, 2016	¥513.5B	¥283.7B	¥693B	¥229.8B
Jul 24, 2016	¥693B	¥494.8B	¥-41B	¥198.2B
Jun 19, 2016	¥-41B	¥40B	¥824B	¥-81B
May 22, 2016	¥824B	¥492.8B	¥755B	¥331.2B
Apr 19, 2016	¥755B	¥834.6B	¥242.8B	¥-79.6B
Mar 16, 2016	¥242.8B	¥388.6B	¥-645.9B	¥-145.8B
Feb 17, 2016	¥-645.9B	¥-680.2B	¥140B	¥34.3B
Jan 24, 2016	¥140B	¥100B	¥-379.7B	¥40B
Dec 16, 2015	¥-379.7B	¥-446.2B	¥111.5B	¥66.5B
Nov 18, 2015	¥111.5B	¥-292B	¥-114.5B	¥403.5B
Oct 21, 2015	¥-114.5B	¥84.4B	¥-569.6B	¥-198.9B
Sep 17, 2015	¥569.6B	¥-541.3B	¥-268.1B	¥1110.9B
Aug 19, 2015	¥-268.1B	¥-56.7B	¥-70.5B	¥-211.4B
Jul 23, 2015	¥-69B	¥5.4B	¥-216B	¥-74.4B
Jun 17, 2015	¥-216B	¥-226B	¥-53.4B	¥10B
May 25, 2015	¥-53.4B	¥-318.9B	¥229.3B	¥265.5B