globaltraffic.earth

Where does Japan get its medicines? Import sources 2024

In 2024, Japan imported $14.7 billion of medicines (47 thousand tonnes), 3% of the world total. Its main sources were the United States (23%), Germany (17%) and Switzerland (11%). Japan was the world’s 9th-largest importer of medicines.

Summary

Value
$14.7billion
Tonnes
47thousand tonnes
Share of world total
3%
World rank
9th
Routes from the main sources. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Sources

The 20 main sources in the latest year.

PartnerValue (USD billions)TonnesUSD per tonneShareMode
United States3.4Tonnes: 4,668USD per tonne: $738,22123.5%Air
Germany2.5Tonnes: 1,847USD per tonne: $1,367,24917.2%Air
Switzerland1.5Tonnes: 689USD per tonne: $2,244,94410.5%Air
Ireland1.1Tonnes: 417USD per tonne: $2,540,3427.2%Air
Sweden0.73Tonnes: 434USD per tonne: $1,676,6575%Air
Canada0.7Tonnes: 206USD per tonne: $3,410,0544.8%Air
United Kingdom0.62Tonnes: 3,206USD per tonne: $194,7674.3%Air
France0.57Tonnes: 2,152USD per tonne: $262,9693.9%Air
Denmark0.57Tonnes: 722USD per tonne: $783,2013.9%Air
Italy0.47Tonnes: 939USD per tonne: $498,7963.2%Air
Belgium re-exports0.38Tonnes: 835USD per tonne: $458,4072.6%Air
Slovenia0.38Tonnes: 288USD per tonne: $1,319,0912.6%Air
Singapore re-exports0.31Tonnes: 9,194USD per tonne: $33,8312.1%Sea
Spain0.16Tonnes: 1,179USD per tonne: $138,8071.1%Air
South Korea0.16Tonnes: 2,269USD per tonne: $69,4161.1%Air
Portugal0.15Tonnes: 34USD per tonne: $4,272,1870.99%Air
Netherlands re-exports0.12Tonnes: 58USD per tonne: $2,013,6480.79%Air
India0.11Tonnes: 599USD per tonne: $189,1370.77%Air
China0.1Tonnes: 7,796USD per tonne: $13,2820.7%Air
Austria0.08Tonnes: 288USD per tonne: $270,9690.53%Air

Trend

Who it buys from

The United States has been its main source since 2016

Value in USD billions. The five largest sources in 2024.

  • United States 3.4
  • Germany 2.5
  • Switzerland 1.5
  • Ireland 1.1
  • Sweden 0.73

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
United States0.183.4
Germany0.432.5
Switzerland0.251.5
Ireland0.041.1
Sweden0.270.73

Sources and methodology

Other products of this country

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

See all products