Japan’s current account surplus fell to JPY 2,372.3 billion in September 2026 from JPY 4,375.8 billion a year earlier, missing the JPY 3,354.4 billion market forecast. The decline reflected a smaller primary income surplus, wider services and secondary income deficits, and a shift in the goods account to deficit as imports grew faster than exports. Strong demand for AI-related electronics supported exports, while higher crude oil purchases contributed to import growth. For the first half of fiscal 2026, covering April through September, Japan recorded a current account surplus and a largely unchanged trade surplus of JPY 17.15 trillion, compared with JPY 17.22 trillion a year earlier. The preliminary balance of payments report was released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance on the 10th.