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Japan's fresh vegetable market is estimated at approximately 14 million metric tons of which around 5 percent comes from imports. In 2023, the United States was the fourth largest supplier of fresh vegetables to Japan at $52 million and the second largest by volume at 46,309 metric tons.

In relation to persistent rising food prices, Japan has seen a decline in overall vegetable oil consumption. Due to the more favorable crush margin for canola compared to soybeans, FAS/Tokyo forecasts a reduction in soybean imports and crush, while seeing an increase in rapeseed imports and crush for both MY 2023/24 and MY 2024/25.

This report highlights Japan’s food processing industry, notable trends, and a market snapshot of western Japan. The industry experienced a 4.1 percent decline in the value of food produced in 2023 from 2022 on a dollar basis totaling $182 billion compared to $190 billion in 2022.

Post forecasts Japan’s 2023 chicken meat production rises marginally and overcomes surging production costs as strong demand for chicken is driven by recovery in the food service industry under a boost from returning international tourism.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries invites public comments on the proposed revision of the Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS) for soybean milk products. Comments must be submitted in Japanese by October 8, 2022.

FAS/Tokyo projects 2023 cattle stocks to expand to 3.995 million metric tons (MT) following increased production in 2021 and 2022. In the dairy sector, cow slaughter continues to increase in 2022 to adjust for excess capacity and overproduction of milk. FAS/Tokyo forecasts 2023 beef production to remain flat from 2022 at 490,000 MT.

FAS Tokyo estimates MY2022/23 wheat and rice production in Japan to decrease from last year's bumper crop due to poor weather conditions in major production regions. Due to favorable weather, Post estimates the MY2022/23 barley crop to increase from MY2021/22.

Japan held the first public meeting of the expert committee to update Japan’s biofuel target. Japan’s current on-road biofuel target expires in March 2023.

On September 9, the Government of Japan (GOJ) announced a 3.5 billion yen ($24.3 million) relief package to alleviate rising food and energy costs, funded through the Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2022 reserve fund.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries invites public comments on revised Japan Agricultural Standards for glued laminated timber (glulam) and plywood through October 8, 2022. Comments must be submitted in Japanese.

This report highlights notable household consumption for meat products among Japanese consumers and the strong preference for home-meals during the global pandemic. Recent data released from The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced the breakdown of meat consumption (by setting and use) in 2020.

Japan's decline in farmland, combined with a shortage of agricultural labor, changes in consumer diets, and the opening of the Japanese market, have boosted imports of many agricultural products. This report looks at the long terms trends in production area and agricultural production in Japan, and its impact on agricultural trade.