Container throughput at Japan’s six major ports declined 3.6% year on year in October 2025 to a combined total of 1.19 million TEUs, marking the second consecutive month of contraction, according to official transport ministry data.
Both export and import volumes recorded declines during the month. Exports fell 6.4% to 581,280 TEUs, while imports edged down 0.7% to 605,514 TEUs, reflecting softer containerised trade activity.
Tokyo handled the largest share of volumes, processing 355,700 TEUs in October, down 2.5% year on year. Export volumes through the port declined 3.3% to 159,547 TEUs, while imports slipped 1.9% to 196,153 TEUs.
Kawasaki recorded a modest increase in overall container traffic, with volumes rising 1.9% to 6,275 TEUs. Exports climbed sharply by 14.5% to 3,017 TEUs, although imports fell 7.6% to 3,258 TEUs.
Yokohama posted stronger growth, handling 246,523 TEUs, up 4.1% from a year earlier. Export volumes increased 1.2% to 132,792 TEUs, while imports rose 7.6% to 113,731 TEUs.
At Nagoya, throughput edged up 0.2% to 233,949 TEUs. This included a 2.4% decline in exports to 120,713 TEUs, offset by a 3.2% increase in imports to 113,236 TEUs.
Osaka saw container volumes fall 7.3% year on year to 180,184 TEUs, with exports down 8.6% to 82,790 TEUs and imports decreasing 6.3% to 97,394 TEUs.
Kobe recorded the steepest decline among the six ports, with volumes dropping 16% to 164,163 TEUs. Export volumes plunged 23.9% to 82,421 TEUs, while imports declined 6.1% to 81,742 TEUs.
The figures were reported by the Japan National Freight Forwarders Association, citing data from Japan’s transport ministry, and highlight continued uneven performance across the country’s major container gateways.
