A Disturbed Airport and Diverted Exports: Evidence from Typhoon Jebi

Author: Toshihiro Okubo, Akira Sasahara
Date: 2025/7/8
No: DP2025-014
JEL Classification codes: F14, R41, N75
Language: English
[ Abstract / Highlights ]

This study investigates the impact of the closure of Japan's major international port on firm export behavior. In 2018, Typhoon Jebi directly struck Kansai International Airport (KIX), caused a two-week shutdown of the airport. Utilizing this event as a natural experiment, we examine the stability of logistic infrastructure achieved through the diversion of air exports to other airports, as well as the sectoral heterogeneity of this response. We find that the airport closure resulted in a diversion of exports to other airports, leading to a decline in total air exports only during the week of the typhoon's impact. While exports through non-KIX airports increased, these effects persisted for five to nine weeks. The extent of trade diversion was smaller in the machinery and transport equipment sectors. Our findings suggest that the disruption caused by a temporary airport closure can have substantial short-term impacts but does not result in permanent or long-lasting effects.