Japan’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports hit a new high in the first half of 2022, benefiting from a weaker yen and the relaxing of COVID-19 measures in the U.S.A. and Europe.
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) announced on 5 August the country's agricultural exports were up 7.9 percent year-on-year, and that its marine product exports rose 31.5 percent to reach JPY 180.2 billion (USD 1.33 billion, EUR 1.31 billion).
China ranked as Japan's top overall export destination, the United States was second, and Hong Kong ranked third.
Demand for eating out has recovered in Europe and the United States, and sales through new sales channels such as retail stores and e-commerce have been strong, the ministry said.
Japan's sales to the U.S. saw significant growth due to the depreciation of the yen, which had a positive effect on exports – though it also increased the cost of imported raw materials and transportation, which places a heavy burden on exporters. Scallops, yellowtail, and Japanese sake in particular gained from the reopening of the U.S. foodservice sector.
Sales increases to China were lead by scallops, dried sea cucumber, and sake, and increases to South Korea were lead by scallops, red sea bream, and sake.
Japan's exports to Hong Kong fell in H1 2022 due to a COVID-19 lockdown, and Japan's exports of sea cucumber, tobacco, and processed shellfish to the city fell.
Scallops have long been Japan’s top seafood export item by value. Total exports of the bivalve were up by 68 percent in H1 2022, reaching JPY 15.7 billion (USD 116.3 million, EUR 114.2 million) due to a decrease in U.S. production. With production in Hokkaido, Japan, solid this year, the country's scallop sales to the United States and China increased.
Japan's yellowtail exports gained 64 percent to reach JPY 7.8 billion (USD 57.7 million, EUR 56.7 million) in H1 2022. Its exports of frozen yellowtail fillets increased as U.S. foodservice demand recovered.
Japan's mackerel exports dropped 26 percent, or JPY 3.9 billion (USD 28.8 million, EUR 28.3 million) after Japan’s mackerel catch decreased, prices rose, and shipments to Africa and Southeast Asia fell.
Japan has made a concerted effort to smooth the issuance of export certificates and provide additional support to ensure export certifications of the country's fish-processing facilities. It has also emphasized the smoothing of regulatory rules in negotiations with export-destination countries.
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