Ores and metals imports in Japan
Japan: Ores and metals imports was 7.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals imports in Japan, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals imports in Japan stood at 7.0%.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Japan peaked at 20.9% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2002.
Japan ranks 11th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 16.3% | — |
| 1963 | 14.9% | -8.5% |
| 1964 | 17.3% | +16.0% |
| 1965 | 17.3% | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 18.1% | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 20.4% | +12.9% |
| 1968 | 19.5% | -4.6% |
| 1969 | 20.9% | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 18.1% | -13.5% |
| 1972 | 15.8% | -12.4% |
| 1973 | 16.0% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 12.9% | -19.0% |
| 1975 | 10.8% | -16.2% |
| 1976 | 10.3% | -5.1% |
| 1977 | 10.1% | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 10.0% | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 10.1% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 10.0% | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 8.8% | -11.5% |
| 1982 | 8.9% | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 9.3% | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 9.2% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 8.9% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 8.8% | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 10.3% | +15.7% |
| 1989 | 9.9% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 8.9% | -10.7% |
| 1991 | 8.5% | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | -18.0% |
| 1993 | 6.4% | -8.9% |
| 1994 | 6.2% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -15.9% |
| 1997 | 6.0% | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 6.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 5.5% | -8.5% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | +27.3% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 7.8% | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | -19.7% |
| 2010 | 8.2% | +30.1% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 6.6% | -17.8% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | +28.6% |
| 2022 | 7.6% | -18.7% |
| 2023 | 7.0% | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 7.2% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 7.0% | -3.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 7.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 3.3× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Japan's 7.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 5.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.1% | 14.9% | 20.9% | 8 |
| 1970s | 13.5% | 10.0% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.3% | 8.8% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 5.5% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 4.8% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.7% | 5.8% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 7.0% | 9.4% | 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 exports 3.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Japan?
- Ores and metals imports in Japan was 7.0% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 1970.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2002.
- How does Japan rank for ores and metals imports?
- Japan ranks 11th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.