Yen plunges to five-year low as Japan import costs surge

Mar 14, 2022 | News On Japan

Mar 14, 2022 (Japan Times) - The yen’s plunge to a five-year low shows no signs of easing as surging commodity prices have worsened the outlook for Japan’s trade balance and put pressure on the currency’s haven credentials.

The nation is a net importer of a long list of raw materials from crude oil and grains to metals, exposing it higher costs as prices of all these have risen due to sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Japan posted its sixth straight monthly trade deficit in January, with the shortfall climbing to an eight-year high of Y2.2 trillion ($18.7 billion). February numbers are due Wednesday.

The yen’s decline this year is even more striking given that it typically benefits in times of risk aversion. The currency has dropped against more than half of its Group of 10 peers in the past month even as the conflict in Ukraine set off a flight to safety among global investors.

“Japan relies on importing all these commodities, which are essential,” said Daisaku Ueno, chief currency strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. in Tokyo. “As a fallout from the war in Ukraine, Japan is facing increased demand for dollars that’s irrelevant of risk sentiment.”

The yen is likely to drop a further 1% to 118.66 per dollar in coming months, Ueno said. That would match one of its most significant previous lows set in December 2016.

The currency headed for a sixth straight day of losses on Monday, sliding as much as 0.3% to 117.61, the weakest level since January 2017.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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