TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s trade deficit totaled 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) last month as surging oil prices due to the conflicts in the Middle East sent the cost of imports soaring.
It was the fourth straight month of red ink, according to the Finance Ministry’s preliminary data Wednesday.
Resource-poor Japanimports virtually all its oil. Previously that came mostly through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has been curtailed due the stalemated Iran war.
Japan’s imports in August rose 28% from the same month a year ago to 11.15 trillion yen ($71.9 billion), as the price of oil soared.
Japan’s exports rose 19.3% to 10 trillion yen ($64.5 billion), mainly in computer chips and autos.
By nation or region, Japan’s exports to the U.S. grew 24.9% from the previous year, while imports from the U.S. rose 55.2%.
Japan’s exports to the Middle East declined 5.2%, while imports from that region fell 4.2%. Japan’s exports to Europe edged up 11%, while imports gained 20.4%.
The price of Brent crude has soared over the last year, from the upper $60 levels per barrel to more than $100. That reached as high as $118 a barrel in April.
The focus is now on what the U.S. and Japan might do on interest rates. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made remarks widely seen as prodding Japan’s central bank to raise interest rates, a move that would support the yen.
The yen has fallen recently against the U.S. dollar, although it briefly gained due to joint intervention by the U.S. and Japan.
The dollar is trading recently at about 155 yen. Some analysts are expecting it to fall to about or below 150 yen later this year.
The Bank of Japan meets later this week to decide on its benchmark interest rate. Markets are already figuring in a raise to 1.25% from the current 1%.
A stronger yen would help at a time when the nation must import oil and other products, including food and raw materials.
It would hurt giant exporters like Toyota Motor Corp., by reducing the value of exports when converted into yen.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is promising more government spending, as well as a reduction of the consumption tax on food.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to lift its short-term interest rate Wednesday for the first time in three years to fight stubbornly high inflation.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama
A customer fills up the tank of a vehicle at a gasoline station in Tokyo, on March 18, 2026. (Naoki Kawano/Kyodo News via AP)
HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Peña homered in his first two at-bats and Yordan Alvarez slugged his 39th home run to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
The Astros, who entered the day leading the AL West by one game over the Texas Rangers, got back on track after a three-game sweep by Tampa Bay over the weekend.
Peña hit Michael Wacha’s first pitch over the wall in left-center field for his first homer since Aug. 30.
There was one out in the third when he connected off Wacha (9-9) again, a shot to the seats in left to make it 2-0 and give him a fifth career multi-homer game.
The Astros led by one when Peña singled with two outs in the fifth. Alvarez followed with his soaring longball to right field. His 39 homers are a career best and trail the Rays' Junior Caminero by two for the AL lead.
AJ Blubaugh and Bryan Abreu each threw a scoreless inning before Josh Hader allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth to close it out and collect his 26th save.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (6-3) allowed two hits and a run while tying a season high with 10 strikeouts in five innings.
He had allowed just one hit when he walked Isaac Collins with two outs in the fifth. Collins stole second base before Carter Jensen’s double to left field sent him home.
Vinnie Pasquantino homered off Bennett Sousa with two outs in the sixth to get the Royals within 4-2.
Wacha yielded four hits and four runs in six innings as the Royals lost their third straight.
Royals LHP Daniel Lynch IV (5-5, 3.52 ERA) opposes Astros RHP Cristian Javier (2-5, 5.50) on Wednesday night.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) celebrates with third base coach Vance Wilson (17) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez celebrates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez watches his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
