In April 2023, Tokyo reported a sharp pullback in non-ferrous metal imports from Russia, showing a decline of nearly 80 percent compared with the same month in 2022. The data came from the press service of Japan’s Ministry of Finance and reflects a broad adjustment in energy and material trade patterns between the two countries.
Additionally, Japan reduced its natural gas purchases, measured as LNG, by more than ten percent from April 2022 figures. The month also saw an even steeper drop in coal imports from Moscow, totaling just over four-fifths of the level seen a year earlier. These shifts echo wider efforts to diversify supply sources and respond to evolving energy markets and geopolitical considerations.
Beyond energy, Japan cut its purchases of vegetables by more than three-quarters and its seafood and fish imports by roughly one-third. In contrast, grain products sourced from Russia to Tokyo surged significantly, jumping by more than fivefold and signaling a selective adjustment where some agricultural commodities gained prominence in trade flows.
Looking at the full fiscal year spanning April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, Japan reported a 6.3 percent decrease in goods bought from Russia, totaling 1.73 trillion yen, or about 12.85 billion dollars. In the opposite direction, Russia increased its purchases of Japanese goods to 524.08 billion yen, roughly 3.9 billion dollars, reflecting a rise of almost 40 percent from the prior fiscal year. These figures illustrate the shifting balance in bilateral trade as both economies recalibrate to new market realities and policy priorities.
Reports from officials in Sapporo note that Tokyo’s Arctic LNG 2 project is expected to influence future gas procurement patterns. As development progresses, the project could contribute to a broader diversification of gas supply routes and sources for Japan, potentially altering the country’s energy mix and its exposure to traditional suppliers in the coming years.