On May 11, 2026, Japan's Finance Ministry released data showing that the country's current account surplus for fiscal 2025 (ending March 2026) reached ¥34.52 trillion (about $229.6 billion), the highest on record.
The figure far exceeded the previous year's surplus of ¥29.26 trillion, mainly due to a strong increase in income from overseas investments, especially dividends and interest from stocks and bonds held by Japanese companies. Goods exports also recovered significantly on demand from Asian markets, offsetting high energy import costs.
Economists note that the record current account surplus reflects the strength of Japan's economy in generating income from foreign investments, despite global uncertainties. However, the weak yen also contributed by boosting the nominal value of these earnings when converted to yen.
The Finance Ministry projects that the current account surplus could remain high in the coming years if exports continue to grow and import costs do not spike sharply. Detailed data will be released in the May international balance of payments report.
