Japan's July trade deficit widens to ¥634.5B as record imports outpace exports
MacroDigital Finance
Japan's trade deficit widened to 634.5 billion yen in July 2026, up from 156.3 billion yen a year earlier, marking the third straight monthly shortfall and the largest gap since January. Exports jumped 23.2% year-on-year to a record 11,511.8 billion yen, beating the 19.9% consensus, while imports surged 27.8% to a record 12,146.3 billion yen, topping 26.5% forecasts, propelled by elevated crude oil prices and resilient domestic demand linked to late-2025 stimulus measures. The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.3% to above 66,000 and the broader Topix Index advanced 0.8% to 4,045, while the Japanese yen traded near 158 per dollar.
