Japan aims to boost annual rice exports to 100,000 tons

September 8, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's agriculture ministry said Friday it has set an ambitious goal of increasing annual rice exports to 100,000 tons by 2019.

Amid a slump in domestic consumption, the ministry aims to step up sales campaigns for Japanese rice in overseas markets, where Japanese food is increasingly popular, in a bid to shore up farmers' incomes, officials said.

The export target figure is for rice consumed as a staple food, as well as for processed products, such as snacks and sake, in which rice is used as the main ingredient.

In 2016, Japan's rice exports totaled 10,000 tons for the staple food alone and 24,000 tons including processed items.

At a news conference, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Ken Saito said, "This is a very high goal but we'll try boldly (to achieve it)."

For the export promotion drive, the ministry will solicit applications from businesses motivated to work to boost exports and producer groups eager to expand sales abroad. Participants will be selected by the end of October.

Currently, Japanese-grown rice is exported primarily to Hong Kong and Singapore. The ministry hopes to stimulate new demand, focusing on Japanese restaurants, the officials said.

But it is uncertain how much Japanese rice consumption will grow overseas, with prices higher than those of rice produced in other nations. Jiji Press