Browse Data and Analysis

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), which entered into force on January 1, 2020, improved market access for U.S. products through the creation of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for food wheat, wheat products, malt, processed cheese, whey, glucose and fructose, potato starch, corn starch, and inulin.

The Japanese government announced they would reduce planned imports of butter to 7,600 metric tons (MT) in Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2022 from 9,500 MT in the previous year while maintaining nonfat dry milk imports at 750 MT.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 11 agricultural chemicals (Afidopyropen, Cyantraniliprole, Tetraniliprole, Picoxystrobin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Cyfluthrin, Ampicillin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Lubabegron, and Bacitracin) for various agricultural commodities.

In MY 2021/22, profit margins of Japanese soybean crushing surpassed those of canola crushing. Meanwhile, as hotel, restaurant, and institutional service industries (HRI) began to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic, demand for soybean oil spiked as canola oil demand dropped with less home cooking than during the peak crisis period.

On April 1, 2022, processed food manufactures in Japan must be in compliance with new country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements. The new rule requires Japanese food manufacturers to identify on the label of the product the country(ies) where the main ingredient, by weight, was harvested or produced.

This report highlights Japan’s food processing industry, notable trends, and a new market snapshot of western Japan processors. The industry benefited from a slightly higher exchange rate in relation to the dollar in 2021, compared to 2020, allowing the industry to experience marginal growth by value, totaling $216.4 billion.

FAS Tokyo projects Japan’s overall demand for feed grain to remain robust in MY2021/22 and MY2022/23 as livestock production expands. FAS Tokyo anticipates corn imports to decrease in MY2021/22 and MY2022/23 as feed millers increase the ratio of low-cost rice at the expense of corn in compound feed.

The Japanese Diet is poised to allocate a combined total of 3.2 trillion yen ($27.7 billion) to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) from the Government of Japan's 2021 supplementary budget and 2022 annual budget. MAFF's budget will see increased funding for export facilitation, smart agriculture development, and implementation of MAFF's Green Food System Strategy.

Cattle stocks are projected to expand in 2022 as slaughter slowed in late 2021. In the dairy sector, cow slaughter is likely to increase in 2022 to lower excess milk production.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 7 agricultural chemicals (Triflumizole, 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid, Flometoquin, Bentazone, Metominostrobin, Etoxazole and Permethrin) for various agricultural commodities.

Frozen food production that was nearly zero in 1958 has transformed into an approximately $6.6 billion market today. The growing popularity and convenience among consumers in Japan for frozen foods, continue to steadily increase, particularly since...

This report focuses on Japan’s cheese market and the potential for continued growth. In 2020, the United States exported over $162 million of cheese products to Japan, making Japan the third largest overseas market for American cheese. Cheese...