Japan’s agricultural, fisheries, and forestry product exports reached a historic high of ¥1.45 trillion ($9.9 billion) in 2023, according to government data released on Tuesday. Despite facing obstacles such as China’s import ban on Japanese marine products due to concerns over radioactive wastewater discharge from the Fukushima nuclear plant, exports saw a modest increase of 2.9% compared to the previous year.
The growth, however, was significantly lower than the 14.2% rise observed in 2022, largely attributed to the impact of China’s import restrictions. Despite being Japan’s top export destination, China experienced a 14.6% decline in purchases, marking the first decrease since 2011. Marine product shipments to China saw a notable drop of 29.9%, with scallops witnessing a substantial decline of 43.6%.
However, there were positive trends in other markets. Scallop exports to the United States surged, indicating successful efforts by exporters to diversify their markets. Additionally, sales of pearls experienced a remarkable 92% increase, driven by growing demand in Hong Kong following a trade fair. Green tea exports also saw a significant rise of 33.3%, supported by increased demand in the United States and Europe.
Despite the challenges posed by China’s import ban and a decline in exports in the second half of the year, the Japanese government remains committed to supporting businesses in establishing new sales routes and strengthening supply systems. With ambitious targets to raise annual agricultural and seafood exports to ¥2 trillion by 2025 and ¥5 trillion by 2030, efforts are underway to ensure continued growth and resilience in Japan’s farm and fisheries exports.
