Japan

Japan has long been a major trading partner for Australia. In FY2022-23, Japan was our second-largest trading partner after China, with two-way goods trade valued at AUD143.4 billion.

Japan was also Australia’s second-largest export market, valued at AUD115.0 billion and accounting for 16.8 per cent of our total exports. In FY2022-23, Australia’s major merchandise exports to Japan included coal (AUD53.4 billion), natural gas (AUD34.7 billion), iron ore and concentrates (AUD8.1 billion), beef (AUD1.9 billion), and aluminium (AUD1.3 billion).

On the other side of the trade ledger, in 2022 Japan was Australia’s fifth-largest import source, valued at AUD27.4 billion, including passenger motor vehicles (AUD9.4 billion), refined petroleum (AUD4.2 billion), goods vehicles (AUD2.7 billion), civil engineering equipment and parts (AUD1.1 billion) and rubber tyres, treads and tubes (AUD807.5 million).

In FY2022-23, total bilateral trade in services was valued at AUD5.7 billion, with exports valued at AUD1.9 billion and imports valued at AUD3.8 billion. Australia’s key services exports to Japan include travel, transport, business and insurance/pension services.

Early Japanese settlers started the pearling industry in Australia in the late-1800s. Larger-scale migration began after World War II, and Japanese continue to settle in Australia today. According to the 2021 census, more than 78,000 residents identified with Japanese ancestry.

From January to October 2023, there were 11,335 students from Japan in Australia, ranking Japan as 15th overall by volume of enrolments for student visa holders. Japanese students enrolled in English courses, VET colleges, and higher education. For Australian school students, Japanese is the most studied foreign language.

2023 was a record-breaking year for travel by Australians to Japan, with travellers of all generations making the journey. Tokyo is now one of Australia’s most significant consular posts in the overseas network.

Japan country brief | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)