TOKYO, May 31 — Japan’s exports of rice this year are increasing at a pace of more than 40 percent from a year before, exceeding last year’s strong growth. The rise is driven mainly by shipments to the United States. With prices of U.S.-grown rice rising sharply due to drought, orders for Japanese rice are going up as the weak yen makes the product look reasonably priced. At stores in the U.S., some U.S. rice products ended up being priced higher than Japanese rice. The key to further boost exports is to come up with measures to make Japanese rice take root in the U.S. market. According to the Ministry … Continue reading →

TOKYO, May 23 – The construction of beef processing facilities for export is accelerating in Japan to expand already-strong Japanese wagyu beef export. These facilities meet stringent requirements of European countries, the U.S., and new high-potential markets in Islamic countries. While the recovering demand in the restaurant industry elevates wagyu export volume significantly to hit a new record, the increase in certified beef production facilities will likely accelerate the move. The beef exporters must process meat at facilities meeting standards provided by each importing country or region. According to the farm ministry of Japan, the number of certifications given to Japanese wagyu beef exporters by their primary markets, such as … Continue reading →