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.