The surplus for May marks a 52.2% increase compared to April, according to data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance.
Japan’s balance of payments remained positive in May, mainly due to the income balance related to overseas investments, which recorded a surplus of 4.25 trillion yen (24.8 billion euros), representing a 2.7% decrease compared to the same month in 2024.
The services balance also reported a positive result of 201.1 billion yen (1.17 billion euros) in May, compared to a deficit of 51.6 billion yen (300.6 million euros) during the same period in 2024.
Conversely, Japan’s trade balance registered a deficit of 522.3 million yen (3.04 million euros) in May, a 52.4% reduction from the previous year’s figure.
Although Japanese imports fell by 7.5% year-on-year to 8.56 trillion yen (49.9 billion euros), exports also decreased by 1.4%, totaling 8.03 trillion yen (46.8 billion euros).
The transfers balance showed a negative balance of 497.9 billion yen (2.9 billion euros), which is 82.2% higher than in May 2024.
The balance of payments reflects the payments and receipts from the foreign trade of goods, services, income, and transfers, being considered one of the most comprehensive indicators of a country’s trade performance.
