Japan’s cabbage, Chinese cabbage, lettuce imports hit record highs in Jan.

March 1, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's imports of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and lettuce hit record highs in volume in January, according to the Tokyo Customs.

The surge came as domestic shipments dived due to a long spell of rain and typhoons last autumn.

Imports of Chinese cabbage surged 7.8-fold from a year before to some 2,213 tons, more than 80 percent of last year's total of 2,562 tons.

Cabbage imports jumped 5.8-fold to 13,606 tons. Cabbages and Chinese cabbages from China accounted for most of the total.

Lettuce imports doubled to 4,888 tons. Taiwan was the largest supplier.

Cabbages and other leafy vegetables sold at supermarkets and other retailers in Japan are mostly domestic-made because they go bad easily and are costly to ship, agriculture ministry officials said.

Imported vegetables are used for processed food products and at restaurants, they said.

The average retail prices of cabbages and Chinese cabbages per kilogram in Japan were over twice as high as the average year in the fourth week of February, according to a ministry survey.

Their prices are expected to remain high in March due to sluggish shipments in Japan amid bad weather. Jiji Press