Kuwait-Japan Trade Surplus Shrinks Sharply Amid Falling Exports

Kuwait, 21 April, 2025 : Kuwait’s trade surplus with Japan dropped by 80.3% year-on-year to JPY 20.9 billion (USD 146 million) in March, marking a decline for the second consecutive month, according to government data released Thursday.

Despite this sharp drop, Kuwait maintained a trade surplus with Japan for the 17th year in a row, as exports continued to outpace imports, the Finance Ministry said. Exports from Kuwait to Japan fell by 55.2% year-on-year to JPY 57.5 billion (USD 403 million), while imports surged by 64.8% to JPY 36.6 billion (USD 256 million), the fourth consecutive month of rising imports.

In broader regional trade, the Middle East’s trade surplus with Japan shrank by 29.0% to JPY 566.2 billion (USD 4.0 billion) in March. Exports from the region to Japan, primarily crude oil and natural resources, fell 16.3%, while imports from Japan increased by 17.1%, driven by demand for automobiles and motors.

Japan’s overall trade surplus for March was JPY 544.1 billion (USD 3.8 billion), with exports rising 3.9% due to higher sales of vehicles, chip-making equipment, and non-ferrous metals. Imports grew by 2.0%, led by increased costs for pharmaceuticals, communication devices, and clothing.