Japan's Used Car Exports in 2026: Record Volumes, New Routes
Published September 25, 2026 · Figures as of September 25, 2026
Japan sells more used cars abroad than ever, but in 2026 the way those cars travel changed. Here is what the latest export statistics show, and what they mean if you are buying a car from Japan this year.
Key takeaways
- Japan exported about 1.71 million used vehicles in 2025, a third record year in a row (JUMVEA: 1,708,604, up 9.1%).
- From January to July 2026, exports reached 993,374 units (+2.1%), on course for another record.
- The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz since March 2026 cut shipments to the UAE by 70.6%. Instead of passing through Dubai, cars now go directly from Japan to Africa, Oceania, Europe and South America.
- For buyers, that means more direct routes from Japan and fewer middlemen, and more competition for young cars that meet strict import rules.
A third record year in 2025
The Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA), which counts vehicles priced at ¥200,000 or more, recorded 1,708,604 used vehicle exports in 2025, up 9.1%. It was the first year above 1.7 million. The association credited more stable sea transport and growing demand in Africa and Latin America.
Other statistics agree within half a percent. Ministry of Finance trade data count 1,714,279 used vehicles of all types. Passenger cars alone came to 1,490,242 (+9.3%), worth about ¥1.61 trillion (+17.4%). Value grew almost twice as fast as volume. By our calculation, the average export value of a used passenger car rose about 7% to roughly ¥1.08 million. Overseas buyers bought more cars in 2025, and paid more yen for each one.
The top destinations in 2025 were:
| Destination | 2025 units | Change |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 253,897 | +12.0% |
| Russia | 186,583 | −6.3% |
| Tanzania | 119,036 | +52.6% |
| Chile | 83,523 | +29.1% |
| Kenya | 77,286 | +22.2% |
| New Zealand | 71,633 | −11.9% |
| Mongolia | 66,469 | −40.5% |
| South Africa | 64,555 | +16.6% |
| Sri Lanka | 62,335 | reopened in 2025 |
By region, Africa took the largest share of passenger car exports in 2025 (378,385 units, 25.4%). Sri Lanka went from almost nothing to 62,335 units after it lifted its vehicle import ban in February 2025.
2026: the route map changed
Before 2026, Dubai was the largest hub for re-exporting Japanese used cars to Africa and the Middle East. Most of those cars were inexpensive: in 2025, the average export value per passenger car was about ¥500,000 for the Middle East and ¥690,000 for Africa, against about ¥2.09 million for Asia (our calculation from Ministry of Finance data).
That changed at the start of March. After U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell from about 100 ships a day to about five. Japanese used car exports to the UAE dropped from 18,023 in February to 1,499 in March and 283 in May. In July they were still down 83% from a year earlier, at 3,280.
Total exports did not fall. Exporters and overseas buyers switched to direct shipments. From January to July 2026, exports to the UAE fell by about 106,000 units, while exports to every other destination rose by about 127,000 (+15.3%). The ranking changed:
| Rank (Jan–Jul 2026) | Destination | Jan–Jul 2026 units | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 134,440 | +33.6% |
| 2 | Tanzania | 100,769 | +74.0% |
| 3 | New Zealand | 54,890 | +27.9% |
| 4 | Chile | 53,241 | +19.6% |
| 5 | Mongolia | 50,607 | +11.9% |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 44,626 | +41.9% |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 44,190 | −70.6% |
| 8 | South Africa | 44,147 | +24.5% |
| 9 | Kenya | 44,053 | +3.9% |
| 10 | Malaysia | 32,136 | +8.3% |
Right-hand-drive markets in Europe grew fast too. In the first half of 2026, exports to the United Kingdom rose 65.3% to 19,338, and exports to Ireland rose 85.2% to 12,678. Exporters point to right-hand drive, the popularity of Japanese brands and demand for used hybrids.
Russia's figures need context. Since August 9, 2023, Japan has prohibited exports to Russia of passenger cars with engines over 1,900 cc, as well as hybrids and electric cars, so the trade there is limited to smaller petrol cars.
Kenya's growth slowed from +22.2% in 2025 to +3.9% in January–July 2026. That coincides with a stricter age rule and new tax values introduced there (see our guide to East African import rules in 2026).
Momentum and the outlook for late 2026
Monthly exports peaked in June 2026 at 157,992 units, the busiest month since the start of 2025. Growth then cooled: excluding the UAE, exports rose 17.4% in the first half but only 4.3% in July, partly because July 2025 had been strong.
To set a fourth record, exports from August to December need to stay within about 2.7% of last year's level (our calculation). A full year of roughly 1.68 to 1.73 million units is a reasonable base case. That is our estimate; we found no official forecast.
In June, JUMVEA's chairman said Gulf shipments would take two to three months to normalise once the strait reopened, and that demand for luxury cars over ¥10 million in the Middle East would weaken. Traffic did recover briefly after a provisional agreement on June 17, but fell again from mid-July. As of early September, shipping analysts still reported disruption. It would be unwise to plan purchases on the assumption that the Dubai route returns this year.
What this means for your next purchase
- Direct shipping is now the norm. Buying directly from Japan and shipping to your own port removes a layer of margin and time. Ask for a price that includes freight and insurance to your port (CIF).
- Young cars are in demand. Many markets now favour or require recent cars: Kenya accepts only cars first registered from 2019 onwards, Tanzania taxes cars over eight years old more heavily, and Sri Lanka and Pakistan accept only very young cars. Cars that meet these rules sell quickly at Japanese auctions.
- Check your country's rules before you bid. Our import guides cover Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, New Zealand, the UK, Australia and more.
- Budget for freight and currency changes. Car-carrier rates have risen in 2026, and the yen may not stay this weak. See what Japanese used cars really cost in 2026 and shipping a car from Japan in 2026.
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This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and rates change; confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority before you import.
Sources
- JUMVEA figures reported by the Japan Automobile Business Association: 2025 exports; chairman's comments, June 19, 2026
- Ministry of Finance trade statistics compiled by jumv.net: 2025; 2026 year to date
- Passenger car exports and values, 2025: Resale Value Research
- Dubai as a re-export hub: Nikkei
- Strait of Hormuz traffic: Al Jazeera, August 27, 2026; Drewry via DCN, September 10, 2026
- Monthly figures for July 2026: Goo-net Auto Distribution
- Japan's export restrictions to Russia: Autostat
- Monthly destination analyses by Japanese exporters (JapanCarrier), May–June 2026