Japan's imports from China in 2024 were .119 billion, down 3.9% from the previous year, marking the second consecutive year of decline. China's share of total trade was 20.1%, the lowest level since 2014.
Electrical equipment accounted for 28.7% of import value, decreasing 5.8% year-on-year. While smartphones increased slightly, battery imports decreased 4.6%, with the global average price of lithium-ion battery packs falling 20% to per kWh. Machinery accounted for 18.3% of import value, increasing just 0.3%. Laptop computer imports increased 11.6%, but China's import share declined from 94.4%. Vietnamese imports increased 10.5 times, being the main factor.
In clothing-related categories, both knitted and non-knitted items continued declining for the third consecutive year. China's import share also declined, with diversification progressing to Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and other countries. In vehicle-related areas, auto parts increased for the fourth consecutive year, with China's import share rising from 37.2% in 2014 to 46.1% in 2024.
These changes result from complex interactions of supply chain diversification, competitiveness changes, and geopolitical factors, indicating long-term changes in Japan-China trade structure.