Thursday, April 3, 2025

Japan’s food export record masks ongoing seafood export challenges

Japan set a new record for food exports in 2024, surpassing JPY 1.5 trillion (USD 10 billion), with a 3.7% increase from the previous year. The country’s agriculture, forestry, and fishery exports totaled JPY 1.507 trillion, with agricultural products leading the charge, up 8.4% to JPY 981.8 billion (USD 6.5 billion). However, the gains were offset by a significant drop in seafood exports, which fell 7.5% to JPY 360.9 billion (USD 2.4 billion).

The decline in seafood exports was mainly due to China’s ongoing ban on all Japanese seafood, imposed in August 2023 following Japan’s discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. As a result, Japan’s seafood exports to China dropped by over 29% in 2024, with Hong Kong also reducing imports.

In response to these restrictions, Japanese seafood producers, particularly scallop exporters, have shifted focus to the U.S. market, taking advantage of lower quotas in the U.S. fishery. Japanese companies have also expanded operations into North America through joint ventures to mitigate the loss of Chinese and Hong Kong markets. However, finding processing partners who meet the necessary quality standards remains challenging.

While Japan’s overall food exports show growth, the struggle within its seafood industry continues to highlight the impact of geopolitical tensions on international trade.

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