Japan’s import growth picked up pace in May 2026, with inbound shipments rising 12.5% year-over-year, according to data updated on 16 June 2026. The figure marks a notable acceleration from April 2026, when imports grew 9.8% compared with the same month a year earlier.
Both the current and previous readings are based on year-over-year comparisons, measuring how much imports changed in the given month versus the same month a year before. The latest increase suggests a strengthening trend in Japan’s import demand heading into the middle of 2026, following the already solid expansion recorded in April.
