Japan Logs Record Current Account Surplus for 2nd Straight Year in 2025

Why It Matters

The unprecedented surplus strengthens Japan’s net‑creditor status, supporting fiscal stability and influencing yen valuation, while highlighting the economy’s reliance on diversified overseas earnings.

Key Takeaways

• Current account surplus hit 31.88 trillion yen.
• Primary income rose 4.7% to 41.59 trillion yen.
• Goods trade deficit shrank 76.8% to 848.7 billion yen.
• Travel balance set record 6.34 trillion yen surplus.
• Services deficit widened 22.2% due to R&D payouts.

Pulse Analysis

Japan’s current‑account surplus reached a historic 31.88 trillion yen in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of record‑level balances. The Finance Ministry’s preliminary data shows an 11.1 percent year‑over‑year increase, the strongest since the series began in 1985. Such a surplus reflects the nation’s ability to generate more foreign earnings than it spends abroad, a metric closely watched by investors and policymakers. By outpacing the global slowdown, Japan reinforces its reputation as a net creditor economy, a status that influences capital flows and sovereign‑risk assessments worldwide.

The surge stems primarily from three pillars. Primary income from overseas assets climbed 4.7 percent to 41.59 trillion yen, driven by higher dividends from foreign subsidiaries. Export volumes rose 2.5 percent, especially in semiconductors and food products, compressing the goods‑trade deficit by 76.8 percent. Meanwhile, inbound tourism generated a record 6.34 trillion yen travel surplus, offsetting a widening services deficit that grew 22.2 percent as Japanese firms paid more royalties and R&D fees abroad. Together, these components reshaped the balance, highlighting Japan’s diversified earnings sources.

The implications extend beyond headline numbers. A robust current‑account surplus supports the Bank of Japan’s monetary stance, providing a buffer against potential yen depreciation and easing pressure on fiscal consolidation. For multinational corporations, the strong primary‑income stream signals confidence in overseas investments and may attract further foreign direct investment. However, the expanding services deficit warns of rising cost pressures in high‑tech R&D, suggesting that future growth will depend on maintaining export competitiveness while managing intellectual‑property outflows. Overall, Japan’s surplus underscores its resilience but also flags areas requiring strategic attention.

Japan logs record current account surplus for 2nd straight year in 2025

Feb. 10 2025 · 06:25 am JST

TOKYO — Japan saw a record current‑account surplus for the second straight year in 2025, posting a 31.88 trillion yen surplus on higher returns on foreign investments and a smaller trade deficit due to stronger exports, government data showed Monday.

The surplus in the current‑account balance, one of the widest gauges of international trade, grew 11.1 percent from a year earlier, hitting the highest level since comparable data became available in 1985, the Finance Ministry said in its preliminary report.

• Primary income, which reflects how much Japan earned from overseas investments, grew 4.7 percent to 41.59 trillion yen, as dividends from offshore subsidiaries increased.

• The goods‑trade deficit plunged 76.8 percent to 848.7 billion yen with exports rising 2.5 percent to 107.76 trillion yen, on the back of robust demand for semiconductors and foods, while imports edged down 0.1 percent to 108.61 trillion yen.

• The services‑trade balance saw a deficit of 3.39 trillion yen, up 22.2 percent, due to more payouts for research and development services abroad, including copyright royalties in the pharmaceutical and auto sectors.

• The travel surplus came to 6.34 trillion yen, a new record, buoyed by upbeat inbound tourism. A surplus in the travel balance means that spending by foreign visitors in Japan exceeded the amount spent by outbound Japanese travelers.

In December alone, the country’s current‑account surplus dropped 32.0 percent from a year earlier to 728.8 billion yen, the ministry said.

© KYODO