Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Japan
Japan: Food exports (% of merchandise exports) was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Japan, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food exports in Japan is 1.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.8% on the previous year and up 57.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Japan peaked at 7.4% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2000.
That places Japan 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 7.4% | — |
| 1963 | 5.9% | -20.6% |
| 1964 | 5.3% | -10.1% |
| 1965 | 4.4% | -16.5% |
| 1966 | 4.2% | -5.5% |
| 1967 | 3.8% | -9.9% |
| 1968 | 3.4% | -8.8% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | +7.0% |
| 1970 | 3.5% | -4.9% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -13.5% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | -19.6% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 1.7% | -29.3% |
| 1975 | 1.5% | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | -16.0% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -8.1% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -11.0% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | -9.1% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -13.1% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -12.7% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +67.5% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -30.0% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +35.5% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +19.1% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | +11.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.3%, 11% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.7%, 9% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +67.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.7% | 3.4% | 7.4% | 8 |
| 1970s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More private sector data for Japan
- Merchandise trade 33.7% (2025)
- Food imports 9.8% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 59.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 755.55 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 266.13 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 80.6% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 738.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 242.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 5,985 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1665 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Japan?
- Food exports in Japan was 1.3% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2000.
- How does Japan rank for food exports?
- Japan ranks 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.