Kuwait’s Trade Surplus with Japan Falls to USD 275 Million in February

Kuwait, 20 March, 2025 :  Kuwait’s trade surplus with Japan fell 47.0% year-on-year to JPY 44.1 billion (USD 275 million) in February, marking its first decline in two months due to weaker exports, according to government data released Wednesday.

Despite the drop, Kuwait has maintained a trade surplus with Japan for over 17 years, as exports continued to exceed imports, the Finance Ministry reported.

Kuwaiti exports to Japan declined 31.0% to JPY 70.1 billion (USD 447 million), while imports surged 41.5% to JPY 26.0 billion (USD 162 million), rising for the third consecutive month.

The Middle East’s trade surplus with Japan also shrank 19.9% to JPY 644.9 billion (USD 4.3 billion) as regional exports dropped 9.2%. Crude oil, LNG, and other natural resources—making up 93.2% of exports—fell 12.1%, while imports from Japan grew 21.4% due to higher demand for automobiles and steel.

Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, recorded a global trade surplus of JPY 584.5 billion (USD 3.9 billion) in February, returning to surplus after two months. Exports rose 11.4% on strong vehicle and semiconductor sales, while imports dipped 0.7%, reflecting lower energy costs.