Japan's ranking of suppliers in 2017 are: Germany (7th place, with a weight of 3.5% in total imports), Russia (13th place, with a weight of 2.1%), France (16th place, with a weight of 1.5%), Italy (17th place, with a weight of 1.5%) and Switzerland (20th place, with a weight of 1,2%). All European Union countries accounted for 11.6% of the total value of their imports in 2017.
Portugal, as a supplier from Japan, ranked 66th in 2017, representing 0.05% of the total amount of imports.
Regarding the structure of exports, motor vehicles and other land vehicles, their parts and accessories occupied the first position (20.9% of the total in 2017), followed by mechanical machinery and equipment (19.8%), machinery and electrical equipment (15.1%), optical, photographic, measuring, precision, medical-surgical instruments and apparatus, etc. (5.7%) and cast iron, iron and steel (4.0%). These first five product groupings together accounted for approximately 66% of total exports in 2017.
In terms of imports, fuels and mineral oils were in the first position (21.0% of the total in 2017), followed by electrical machinery and equipment (14.5%), mechanical machinery and equipment (9, 7%), optical, photography, measurement, precision, medical and surgical instruments and apparatus, etc. (3.8%) and pharmaceuticals (3.3%) These first five product groups together accounted for around 52% of the value of Japanese imports in that year.
ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH PORTUGAL
Portuguese exports of goods to Japan and imports from Japan play a very modest role in the trade table.
In 2018, Japan was our 38th customer, with a share of 0.26%, and the 27th supplier with a total percentage of 0.53%.
From January until April 2018, our sales of goods to Japan decreased slightly compared to the same period last year (a percentage change of -0.5%), with imports increasing by 12.0%.
Regarding the structure of Portuguese exports to Japan, food products (26.8% of the total in 2017) and machines and appliances (20.8%) were in the first two positions. This was followed by footwear (8.1%), agricultural products (8.0%) and chemicals (6.3%). The first five product groups together accounted for 70% of the overall value of our sales to this country in 2017.
According to INE data, the number of Portuguese companies exporting to Japan has been increasing, from 759 in 2013 to 945 in 2017, an increase of about 25%.
LEGAL CONDITIONS FOR MARKET ACCESS
In recent years, several measures have been implemented that provide a greater opening of the Japanese market abroad.
The vast majority of goods can be freely imported, except for those which are subject to quotas, such as leather shoes, or which have specific restrictions. All products that endanger safety, morals, public health, violate intellectual property rights or competition law are strictly prohibited (Goods with Prohibitions, Controls and Restrictions).
As Japan is a very strict country in terms of quality and safety, there may be some requirements on certain products, such as mandatory certifications (DENAN, PSE marks and optional mark S), packaging rules, sanitary and phytosanitary inspections, making more complex import process.
Some goods such as building materials, food supplements, chemicals, medicines or electronic equipment are subject to mandatory compliance with legal diplomas, standards and technical regulations, and consultation in Standards and Regulations is required.
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