Japan Private-Sector Rice Imports Up 208-Fold in April-Sept.

Tokyo, Oct. 30 (Jiji Press)–The volume of rice imported into Japan by the private sector in April-September totaled 86,523 tons, up 208-fold from a year earlier amid soaring rice prices, government data showed Thursday. Private-sector rice imports from the United States surged more than 1,000-fold to 70,714 tons, the largest volume by country, according to trade statistics from the Finance Ministry. Foreign rice remains cheaper even with a 341-yen-per-kilogram tariff imposed on privately imported rice beyond Japan’s levy-free quota of 770,000 tons under the minimum access system. According to the statistics, private-sector rice imports soared this fiscal year, following totals of only 730 tons in fiscal 2023 and 3,011 tons in fiscal 2024. Rice from the United States accounted for about 80 pct of total imports in the first half of fiscal 2025, followed by 6,068 tons of Taiwanese rice and 3,495 tons of Vietnamese rice. Rice from South Korea and Myanmar was also imported, which was not the case a year earlier. Domestic rice prices remain high, especially for new rice harvested in 2025, whose prices are expected to soar due to increased advance payments from agricultural cooperatives to farmers. The average price of rice sold at about 1,000 supermarkets across Japan has hovered around 4,000 yen per 5 kg since last month. The Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. group hosted a tasting event in Tokyo on Friday for Calrose rice harvested in California. “I want more people to enjoy it,” said Yumi Kojima, director of the Japan office of the USA Rice Federation, voicing hopes that U.S. rice will spread not only for commercial use but also for home use. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]