Japan’s rice exports from January to July hit a record high despite domestic rice shortage

Japan’s rice export for the January to July period this year witnessed an increase of more than 23 percent compared to the same period of last year due to growing demand from Japanese restaurants overseas. 

More specifically, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan’s rice export volume from January to July of this year was 24,469 tons. This marks the highest number ever recorded for this period since the ministry started collecting data in 2014. 

Hong Kong is Japan’s biggest rice export partner, followed by the United States and Singapore. Ministry officials attributed this growth to increasing demand for rice at Japanese restaurants in Asian countries and the United States. 

On the other hand, supermarkets and stores in Japan have been experiencing a rice shortage. 

Regarding this issue, Agriculture Minister Sakamoto emphasized in a press conference on Tuesday that Japan’s domestic rice stock as of the end of June this year was 1.56 million tons, far exceeding last year’s total rice export of 37,000 tons. He also said that roughly 40 percent of the annual shipment volume will be shipped from producing areas by the end of this month as well as how the distribution of new rice will be in full swing, reiterating his view that the rice shortage situation will gradually improve. 

Source: NHK