Japan’s Chip Exports to China Surge as Bilateral Trade Rebounds
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Japan’s integrated circuit exports to China surged nearly 48% in 2025, helping drive a rebound in bilateral trade even as geopolitical tensions intensified and shipments of semiconductor manufacturing equipment declined.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China said in its 2026 white paper released Thursday that trade between the two countries rose 6.2% to $343.3 billion in 2025, ending three straight years of decline. The recovery underscores the continued integration of global electronics and automotive supply chains, even as Japanese companies face mounting pressure from Chinese competitors.
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- Japan’s integrated circuit exports to China surged 47.9% to $28.7 billion in 2025, driven by AI demand.
- Bilateral trade rose 6.2% to $343.3 billion, while semiconductor equipment exports fell 2.3% due to export controls.
- 74.5% of Japanese firms in China cite Chinese companies as main competitors, prompting price cuts and cost controls.
- ICwise
- ICwise is a semiconductor research firm. Its director, Wang Xiaolong, attributed the 47.9% surge in Japan's integrated circuit exports to China in 2025 to surging AI-related demand, which lifted sales and prices of components like MLCCs and NAND flash memory chips.
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
- The article mentions Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) as a major chipmaker with heavy AI-related demand. This demand has led Japanese semiconductor equipment suppliers to prioritize TSMC and other global customers over Chinese buyers.
- Samsung Electronics Co.
- Samsung Electronics Co. is mentioned as a major chipmaker with heavy AI-related demand, which led Japanese semiconductor equipment suppliers to prioritize larger global customers over Chinese buyers in 2025, according to a trade report.
- SK Hynix Inc.
- SK Hynix Inc. is a major global chipmaker mentioned in the article as a key driver of heavy AI-related demand for semiconductors. This demand has led Japanese equipment suppliers to prioritize large customers like SK Hynix over Chinese buyers, impacting trade dynamics.
- Micron Technology Inc.
- Micron Technology Inc. is a major global chipmaker highlighted in the article for its heavy AI-related demand in 2025. This demand, alongside TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix, led Japanese semiconductor equipment suppliers to prioritize larger global customers over Chinese buyers.
- Renesas Electronics Corp.
- Renesas Electronics Corp. generated about 30% of its total revenue from China in both 2024 and 2025, with China revenue rising 9% in 2025. The company remains heavily reliant on the Chinese market amid geopolitical tensions.
- Murata Manufacturing Co.
- Murata Manufacturing Co. derived 47.2% of its revenue from Greater China in the fiscal year ended March 2026, up 4% year-on-year. Chinese automakers accounted for more than half of those sales, reflecting strong demand from China's electric vehicle and automotive industries.
- Omdia
- According to the article, research firm Omdia noted a sharp reversal in the global memory chip market in 2025, moving from oversupply early in the year to severe shortages and soaring prices by the third quarter.
- 2024：
- Renesas Electronics Corp. generated about 30% of its total revenue from China.
- 2025：
- Japan External Trade Organization surveyed 791 Japanese firms operating in China and other overseas markets; 74.5% identified Chinese companies as their main competitors.
- By the third quarter of 2025：
- Global memory chip market moved to severe shortages and soaring prices.
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