Japan: Stone Fruit Annual
Favorable weather conditions in marketing year (MY) 2016/17 increased Japanese cherry production to 19,800 MT. However, FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2017/18 production will fall to 19,000 metric tons (MT) due to minor frost damage in the largest producing region. Although Japanese cherry imports have been on the decline for several years, FAS/Tokyo forecasts cherry imports in MY 2017/18 will increase to 5,000 MT due to competitive prices for U.S. cherries. For peaches, FAS/Tokyo forecasts a decline in Japanese production in MY 2017/18, to 125,000 MT, from record-high production levels in MY 2016/17.
