Japan’s imports grew by 18.9% year-on-year to JPY 11,508.8 billion in September 2026, falling short of market expectations for a 19.6% gain and slowing from an almost four-year high of 28% rise in August. The latest result marked the softest growth since April. By region, imports rose from China (16.4%), Taiwan (54.9%), South Korea (40.7%), the US (44.8%), ASEAN (16.0%), and Australia (31.1%), while purchases from the EU edged down 0.1% and those from the Middle East fell 7%.