Construction of new refrigerated facilities at a number of Japanese ports will be partly funded by the country’s government as it looks to support the growth of its seafood and agriculture exports.
With the funding, Japan's aim is to increase exports to JPY 1 trillion (USD 8.9 billion, EUR 7.4 billion) worth of products by 2019, up from JPY 750 billion (USD 6.7 billion, EUR 5.5 billion) in 2016.
In addition to ramping up its exports to nearby China and South Korea, Japan wants to make further inroads into Europe and the United States. But exporting to these markets requires stricter food safety controls, reported local media.
This fiscal year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism launched a program under which it shoulders about one-third of the cost of constructing refrigerated warehouses near ports and installing power supply equipment for refrigerated shipping containers.
The plan is starting with six ports on the northern island of Hokkaido, which is known for seafood such as salmon and scallops as well as farm products.
Ishikari Bay New Port and the Port of Tomakomai – two of the six to receive government assistance – are seen as export hubs. Ishikari plans to add more power supply equipment for shipping containers, and Tomakomai seeks to build refrigerated warehouse facilities as well as a 250-meter-long covered wharf. Together, the projects could cost several million dollars.
In 2014, approximately JPY 9.5 billion (USD 84.4 million, EUR 70 million) in seafood and agricultural exports passed through Ishikari and JPY 32.9 billion (USD 292.3 million, EUR 242.7 million) through Tomakomai. The goal is to more than double these values to JPY 19.7 billion (USD 175.1 million, EUR 145.3 million) and JPY 70.7 billion (USD 628.1 million, EUR 521.4 million) by 2025.
Japan's government is also hoping its exports will be boosted by Japan's new economic partnership agreement with the European Union, as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. While the United States has withdrawn from the proposed treaty, its remaining 11 members aim to put it into effect in 2019.
