Japan's Farm and Marine Products Export Up by 21.8%

Washoku is just as common as tsunami the world over and a proof is found in Japan's latest trade statistics as Japan's export of farm and marine products has increased for three consecutive years - by 21.8% in 2015 over 2014 to the tune of 745.2 billion yen. Why? Washoku boom is one; weak yen is another.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries points out, now that the importing nations have relaxed restrictions on imports from Japan, Japan has a fair chance of clearing in advance the target of 1 trillion yen by 2020. 

Exports to Hong Kong rose most by 33.5% to 179.4 billion, followed by the US by 14.9% to 107.1 billion. Taiwan imported 95.2 billion up by 13.4%, followed by South Korea and China. 70% of Japan's export of farm and marine products was Asia-bound.

The most popular item is by far Japanese scallop which earned 59.1 billion up by 32.3% going mainly to South Korea and China. The leading exporters, Taramoto Shoten, said scallop is priced 1.5-2.0 times higher than last year.

In fish and shellfish, mackerel and amberjack went to Southeast Asia, the former 17.9 billion up by 55.4% and the latter 13.8 billion up by 38.2%.

Among farm and livestock products top apple and Wagyu - the former up by 55.0% to 13.4 billion yen and the latter up by 34.6% to 11.0 billion, both clearing the 10 billion yen line. Marukin Tandai Seika, Aomori, exporting Fuji Apple to Taiwan, comments: "Apples from Japan are large, fashionable and reliable and exceedingly popular".

Washoku designated the world's intangible cultural heritage in 2013, Japanese restaurants are now mushrooming all over the world. That keeps Japan's logistics busy as they cater for unique supplies - sake, shoyu to name a few. Yamato Transport, for one, is now studying a new coldinsulated service for their prime customers.

More power to scallop, apples and Wagyu.

Source:Nikkei