Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Japan

Asia · 52 port guides

In 2025 the United States exported $81.4 billion of goods to Japan and imported $145.8 billion from there. Japan was the 7th largest market for US exports and the 7th largest source of US imports.

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163 ports in Japan recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$81.4BUp 3.2% on 2024 ($78.9 billion)
US imports, 2025
$145.8BDown 0.9% on 2024 ($147.1 billion)
Goods balance
$64.4BUS deficit
Export market rank
7thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
7thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Japan

Mineral fuels and oils (chapter 27) led US exports to Japan at $12.0 billion, 15% of the total. The top three chapters made up 34%.

  1. 27Mineral fuels and oils$12.0 billion14.7%
  2. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$8.2 billion10.1%
  3. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$7.2 billion8.8%
  4. 30Pharmaceutical products$7.1 billion8.7%
  5. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$6.5 billion8.0%

US imports from Japan

Vehicles and parts (chapter 87) led US imports from Japan at $45.1 billion, 31% of the total. The top three chapters made up 69%.

  1. 87Vehicles and parts$45.1 billion30.9%
  2. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$32.6 billion22.4%
  3. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$22.3 billion15.3%
  4. 30Pharmaceutical products$7.2 billion4.9%
  5. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$7.0 billion4.8%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Japan, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Japan requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Japan.

Exports through the port, 2025
$952.4M1.2% of the US total with Japan
Leading export goods
PlasticsHS chapter 39, $191.8 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$2.1B1.4% of the US total with Japan
Leading import goods
Machinery and mechanical appliancesHS chapter 84, $885.8 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Japan

52 ports in Japan have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Kiire records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 23.2 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Japan: Abashiri Ko, Amagasaki, Aokata, Atsumi, Beppu, Choshi, Eastern Part of Niigata-Ko, Esasi Ko, Fukui, Fukui Ko, Fukuyama, Funabashi, Fushiki-Toyama, Habu Ko, Hagi Ko, Hakata, Hamada Ko, Hanasaki Ko, Hannan Ko, Hibi Ko, Higashi-Harima, Hikari, Himeji, Himekawa, Hirara Ko, Hirohata, Hiroshima, Hitachi, Imabari Ko, Ishigaki, Ishikari Bay New Port, Ishinomaki Ko, Isikari Wan, Izuhara, Kakogawa, Kanazawa, Kanokawa Ko, Karatsu, Kashima Ko, Kashiwazaki, Katsunan Ko, Kesennuma Ko, Kikuma Ko, Kin Wan, Kinuura Ko, Kochi Ko, Komatsushima, Kudamatsu, Marugame Ko, Matsu-Shima, Matsusaka, Mega, Mikawa, Minamata Ko, Mishima-Kawanoe Ko, Misumi Ko, Mitsukojima, Miyazu, Mombetsu Ko, Mori, Muturezima Ko, Naha Ko, Nakagusuku, Namikata, Naoetsu Ko, Nemuro Ko, Niihama, Nishihara, Noshiro Ko, O0kihama, Omaezaki Ko, Onagawa, Onahama Ko, Onoda, Onomichi-Itozaki, Owase Ko, Rumoi Ko, Ryotu Ko, Saganoseki Ko, Saiki Ko, Sakai-Senboku, Sakaiminato, Shibushi Wan, Shikama, Shimminato, Shimoda Ko, Shingu, Soma, Susaki Ko, Tachibana, Takamatsu, Takuma, Tanabe Ko, Tateyama Ko, Toba, Tobata, Tokachi, Tokuyama, Tomakomai Ko, Tonda, Tsukumi Ko, Ube Ko, Uchiura, Uraga Ko, Uwajima Ko, Yahata, Yanai, Yatsushiro Ko, Yawatahama, Yokosuka Ko and Yura.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.