Data released by the Japanese government on May 13 shows that the country's current account surplus for fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) hit a record 34.52 trillion yen (equivalent to $219 billion). This is the third consecutive year that Japan's current account surplus has set a historic high.
According to Japan's Ministry of Finance, the main driver behind this result was strong growth in semiconductor chip exports, which helped the nation's goods trade balance return to surplus for the first time in five years. Specifically, goods exports rose 6.5% from the previous year, while imports increased by only 1.2%.
The surplus from investment income, including profits from Japanese companies' overseas investments, also climbed to a record 40.5 trillion yen, contributing significantly to the overall surplus. Meanwhile, the deficit in the services sector, mainly due to travel and transportation spending, narrowed slightly.
Economists believe that this growth momentum reflects the robust recovery of the Japanese economy, particularly in the high-tech and chip manufacturing sectors, while also strengthening the yen's position in international financial markets.
