Ores and metals exports in Japan
Japan: Ores and metals exports was 3.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Japan, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Japan recorded 3.6% for ores and metals exports in 2025. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Japan peaked at 3.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1962.
That places Japan 84th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 0.8% | — |
| 1963 | 0.9% | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | +6.5% |
| 1965 | 1.6% | +71.3% |
| 1966 | 1.3% | -17.6% |
| 1967 | 1.1% | -17.3% |
| 1968 | 1.4% | +24.6% |
| 1969 | 1.3% | -5.0% |
| 1970 | 1.4% | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 1.0% | -27.9% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 1.0% | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 2.2% | +127.3% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -50.7% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 1.6% | +28.4% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -33.7% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -3.9% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | +14.2% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | -16.5% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | -7.8% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -10.3% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +20.5% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +16.9% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | +27.9% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 2.6% | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +29.1% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 3.6% | +4.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.7%, 1.3× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.4%, 1.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +127.3% | 1.0% | 2.2% |
| 1965 | +71.3% | 0.9% | 1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More energy & mining data for Japan
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.7535 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Japan?
- Ores and metals exports in Japan was 3.6% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1962.
- How does Japan rank for ores and metals exports?
- Japan ranks 84th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.0%. 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 Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. 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.