EU - Japan trade statistics 2007

21 April 2008
by eub2 -- last modified 21 April 2008

Between 2000 and 2007, EU27 exports of goods to Japan fell slightly in value, from 45.5 bn euro to 43.7 bn, while EU27 imports from Japan decreased by 15%, from 92.1 bn to 77.9 bn.

As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with Japan declined from 46.6 bn in 2000 to 34.2 bn in 2007. The share of Japan in the EU27's total external trade in goods has fallen by a third between 2000 and 2007. In 2007, Japan accounted for 4% of EU27 exports and 6% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27's fifth most important trading partner.

On the occasion of the European Union - Japan summit, which will take place on Wednesday 23 April 2008 in Tokyo, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, issues data on trade in goods and services and FDI flows between the EU and Japan.

Germany and United Kingdom largest EU traders with Japan

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to Japan in 2007, with 13.0 bn euro, or 30% of the total, followed by France (5.8 bn or 13%), the United Kingdom (5.5 bn or 13%) and Italy (4.3 bn or 10%). Germany (18.2 bn or 23%) was also the largest importer, followed by the United Kingdom (11.3 bn or 15%) and the Netherlands¹ (11.1 bn or 14%).

Most Member States recorded trade deficits with Japan in 2007. The largest were observed in the Netherlands¹
(-8.5 bn), the United Kingdom (-5.8 bn), Germany (-5.2 bn), Belgium¹ (-4.9 bn) and Spain (-3.4 bn). The only significant surpluses were registered in Denmark (+0.8 bn) and Ireland (+0.7 bn).

More than a third of EU27 exports to Japan in 2007 were machinery and vehicles² and a quarter were other manufactured articles², while machinery and vehicles accounted for three quarters of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to Japan were motor cars, medicine and pork while the main imports were motor cars and parts, printers and digital cameras.

EU27 and Member States trade with Japan

million euro

EU27 trade with Japan by product

million euro

More than half of the EU27 surplus in services comes from financial services and travel

In 2006, the EU27 exported 18.9 bn euro of services to Japan, while imports of services from Japan amounted to 12.9 bn, meaning that the EU27 had a surplus of 6.0 bn in trade in services with Japan. This surplus was mainly due to financial services (+2.4 bn), as well as travel (+1.5 bn) and transportation (+0.7 bn). Japan accounted for 4% of total extra-EU27 trade in services.

EU27 trade in services with Japan

million euro

Large variation in EU27 FDI flows with Japan

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows between the EU27 and Japan show large variations, with EU27 investment in Japan of 5.8 bn in 2004, 11.9 bn in 2005 and 0.5 bn in 2006. On the other hand, Japan invested 8.2 bn in the EU27 in 2004, recorded disinvestment of 4.6 bn in 2005, then invested 13.6 bn in 2006.

EU27 FDI flows with Japan

(million euro)

Minus sign stands for disinvestment.

1. Dutch imports, and therefore the trade deficit, are over-estimated because of the “Rotterdam effect”, where goods destined for the rest of the EU arrive and are recorded in harmonised EU external trade statistics in Dutch ports. This then has a positive effect on the external trade balances with Japan of those Member States to which the goods are re-exported, as these shipments would be recorded as intra-EU trade with the Netherlands, rather than extra-EU trade with Japan. To a lesser extent, Belgian trade figures are similarly over-estimated.
2. Machinery and vehicles includes power generating and industrial machinery, computers, electric and electronic parts and equipment, road vehicles and parts, ships, airplanes and railway equipment.

Other manufactured articles include leather, rubber, wood, paper, textiles, metals, building fixtures and fittings, furniture, clothes, shoes and accessories, scientific instruments, clocks, watches and cameras.

Source: Eurostat