Imports of bananas up, tapioca down as coronavirus sways trade in Japan
February 6, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Bananas, whose imports reached record highs due to stay-at-home consumption amid the coronavirus pandemic, are seen in Tokyo on Jan. 31, 2021. (Mainichi/Kiyohiro Akama)
TOKYO -- The spread of coronavirus infections has significantly swayed trade in Japan, with imports of bananas and training goods up, while tapioca, the starch used in bubble tea, has taken a dive, analysis of 2020 trade statistics shows.
Overall, Japan's exports in 2020 were down 11.1% from the previous year, while imports fell by 13.8%. A stagnated domestic economy, along with a recession in foreign economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, have damaged various areas of trade. Exports of vehicles, Japan's flagship product, fell by 20%, while there was a 41.7% decline in imports of crude oil -- Japan's primary import.