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Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, comprising four main islands and thousands of smaller ones, with its capital in Tokyo. The country has a population of about 125 million and ranks as the world's third-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product. Japan's economy is highly industrialised and export-oriented, with dominant sectors including automotive manufacturing, electronics, robotics, steel, chemicals and precision machinery. The currency is the yen, and the government operates as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Japan is resource-poor and imports the vast majority of its energy, metals and raw materials, making secure supply chains and trade relationships central to economic policy. Major trading partners include China, the United States, South Korea and countries across South-East Asia. The nation is a member of the Group of Seven, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Japan's industrial base is supported by advanced technology, a skilled workforce and a culture of continuous improvement, though it faces demographic headwinds from an ageing population and low birth rate. The country is a leading importer of liquefied natural gas, coal, iron ore and non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, to feed its manufacturing sector. Since the Second World War, Japan has rebuilt into a global economic power, pioneering lean production methods and high-quality consumer goods that have shaped international markets.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

Alcoa's Australian gallium plant secures Japanese backing

Alcoa Corporation has taken a final investment decision on a gallium plant at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, backed by the Australian, Japanese and US governments alongside a joint development deal with a venture between Japan's government and Sojitz Corporation. The plant could supply up to 10% of global gallium output, a critical mineral for semiconductors and defence.

Hormuz blockage strains Japan as oil crisis persists

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warns global energy security is at risk unless oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz improve within weeks, with Japan and South Korea among the hardest-hit economies as Asia normally sources 80% to 90% of its energy through the strait. China's stockpiles and a coordinated release of up to 400-million barrels have cushioned prices, but Birol says these measures cannot last indefinitely.

US tariff strategy widens beyond Brazil

Washington has imposed new 25% duties on Brazilian goods under a fresh Section 301 tariff strategy, with US officials expecting similar action to eventually target Japan, India, China, South Korea and the European Union as President Donald Trump pursues a broader trade reset.

Japan Updates


An image of the Hilux ninth generation
TSAM’s new Hilux underscores importance of South Africa’s industrial future
17th July 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Automotive manufacturer Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) on July 16 held a line-off ceremony to commemorate the first ninth-generation Hilux coming off the production line at the company’s... 


Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
US imposes new 25% tariffs on Brazil, expands exemptions list
17th July 2026 By: Reuters

The US will hit Brazil with new 25% duties on its furniture, ethanol, machinery, footwear, sugar and other goods such as pig iron and mining equipment, launching a new wave of tariffs that could... 


Strait of Hormuz
Global energy security at risk if Strait of Hormuz does not open in weeks, IEA chief says
17th July 2026 By: Reuters

If the US and Iran do not increase oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz soon, the world should worry about energy security, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol said... 


Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town-Johannesburg is Africa’s busiest air passenger route
16th July 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

The route between Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) was the busiest airport pair connection in Africa last year. This is one of the... 


Gallium
Alcoa greenlights Australia gallium plant with US, Japan and domestic backing
15th July 2026 By: Reuters

Bauxite and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision to set up a gallium plant at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, with... 


Japan’s Marubeni acquires TiAuto
10th July 2026 By: Irma Venter

Japan-based trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation has acquired South African automotive retail and services group TiAuto Investments. Founded in 1967, TiAuto is an automotive... 


An image of Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ Green Screw Oil lubricant
Plant-based lubricant reduces environmental impact
10th July 2026

Industrial machinery manufacturer Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ (HIES’) recently launched plant-based Green Screw Oil lubricant, developed for oil-flooded screw air compressors, delivers... 


Rare earths
Victory Metals ships heavy rare earth concentrate samples to potential offtake partners
9th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Victory Metals has successfully dispatched heavy rare earth concentrate to potential offtake partners in Australia, Japan and the US for independent product examination. The company... 


Containers being transported by ship
IMF lowers 2026 global growth forecast to 3%, sees rebound in 2027
9th July 2026 By: Reuters

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday inched its 2026 global growth forecast lower again to a sluggish 3.0%, warning of ongoing risks linked to the war in the Middle East, trade... 


A generic image of gold bars
First-half gold ETF flows remained positive – World Gold Council
8th July 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Industry body the World Gold Council reports that global investors have continued to reduce their exposure to physically backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in June, but inflows for the first... 


Aluminium
Japan Q3 aluminium premiums soar to highest since 2015 on Mideast supply squeeze
8th July 2026 By: Reuters

Japanese aluminium buyers agreed to pay premiums of $395 a ton for shipments between July and September, the highest since 2015, as the US-Israeli war on Iran squeezed supply, five sources involved... 


Rare earth oxides
Corporate Japan's rare-earth warnings get louder as China keeps the spigot closed
7th July 2026 By: Reuters

A shortage of critical minerals is starting to affect the broader Japanese economy, adding a sense of urgency for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to find alternatives to exports that... 


LNG vessel
Global LNG trade hit record in 2025, but Middle East conflict clouds outlook, IGU says
7th July 2026 By: Reuters

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade hit a record last year as strong US exports and rising European imports offset weaker Asian purchases, the International Gas Union (IGU) said in a report on... 


Coal plant
Japan cuts gas in favour of coal as Hormuz disruption chokes LNG
3rd July 2026 By: Bloomberg

Japan sharply reduced natural gas-fired power generation last month, instead relying more on coal, as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz tightened supplies of the cleaner-burning fuel. The... 


Sub-Saharan Africa set for world’s fastest 5G growth, with subscriptions set to soar to 370m by 2031
3rd July 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to have the fastest 5G subscription growth globally, rising from about 30-million in 2025 to about 370-million by 2031. By 2031, total mobile subscriptions in... 


Platinum jewellery.
Platinum jewellery generates highest demand level since 2019
3rd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Despite metal price and import tariff headwinds, platinum jewellery delivered growth across all markets in 2025, generating the highest demand level since 2019. South Africa is the world's largest... 


Africa saw the strongest air passenger growth in May, reports IATA
30th June 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

The global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has reported that total global air passenger traffic fell by -2.2%, year-on-year, in... 


Shell logo
Shell expects 65% rise in global LNG demand by 2050
30th June 2026 By: Reuters

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand is expected to rise by around 65% by 2050, driven largely by Asia as countries seek lower-emission alternatives to coal and data centres boost power... 


Gold pour at Red Lake in Canada
Canada, Japan consider critical minerals joint stockpiling in hunt for China alternatives
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and Japan are working on a range of mining projects, including potential joint stockpiling, Canada's Trade Minister told Reuters, as Japan moves to diversify supplies of critical minerals... 


Coal import data from December 2025 to June 2026
Asia's thermal coal imports jump on China, Japan, S.Korea buying
26th June 2026 By: Reuters

Asia's imports of seaborne thermal coal are rebounding as China boosts purchases to compensate for soft domestic output and Japan and South Korea seek energy security amid the fallout from the... 


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pqt: 0.183s - ct: 0.255s - 290pq - 2rq
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