Japan's trade balance went into the red in 2011 — the first since 1980 when soaring oil prices caused a trade deficit. But the current account balance is still in the black thanks to income generated by Japan's overseas net assets amounting to some ¥250 trillion. This money is reinvested overseas to generate further income. Still, utmost care must be taken to prevent trade deficits from becoming a regular feature of the Japanese economy.

In 2011, Japan's exports decreased 2.7 percent from 2010 to ¥65.554 trillion — the first dip in two years. Behind the fall were such factors as the serious damage inflicted on supply chains by the March 11 disasters and a slowdown of the world economy caused by the sovereign debt crises in Europe. Japan's car exports declined 10.6 percent and exports of electronic parts by 14.2 percent.

For the second consecutive year Japan's imports rose, increasing by 12 percent from 2010 to ¥68.047 trillion. The crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant resulted in a 37.5 percent increase in liquid natural gas imports for use at thermal power plants- with both the import volume and value hitting a record high. Crude oil imports also increased 21.3 percent.