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This report highlights Japan’s food processing industry, notable trends, and a new market snapshot of western Japan processors. The industry benefited from a slightly higher exchange rate in relation to the dollar in 2021, compared to 2020, allowing the industry to experience marginal growth by value, totaling $216.4 billion.

FAS Tokyo projects Japan’s overall demand for feed grain to remain robust in MY2021/22 and MY2022/23 as livestock production expands. FAS Tokyo anticipates corn imports to decrease in MY2021/22 and MY2022/23 as feed millers increase the ratio of low-cost rice at the expense of corn in compound feed.

The Japanese Diet is poised to allocate a combined total of 3.2 trillion yen ($27.7 billion) to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) from the Government of Japan's 2021 supplementary budget and 2022 annual budget. MAFF's budget will see increased funding for export facilitation, smart agriculture development, and implementation of MAFF's Green Food System Strategy.

Cattle stocks are projected to expand in 2022 as slaughter slowed in late 2021. In the dairy sector, cow slaughter is likely to increase in 2022 to lower excess milk production.

Japan will provide preferential dairy access to the European Union (EU), New Zealand and Australia through two separate free trade agreements which could enter into force as early as 2019.

On April 20, 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) invited public comments on revised Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS) for sawn lumber and Cross Laminated Timber....

The Government of Japan revised the national liquor tax law in 2017.

On April 17, 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a revision to its biofuel policy that creates a market opportunity for up to 366 million liters....

High prices for Japanese table rice led to Japan’s full utilization of the simultaneous buy and sell quota (100,000 MT) in Japanese fiscal year 2017, and are expected to lead to continued....

On March 15, 2018, Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it will apply the organic Japan Agricultural Standard (JAS) to foods that contain ingredients of animal origin....

The Japanese food processing industry is one of the worlds’ most advanced and sophisticated, with yearly output valued at over $200 billion.

A free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and several countries comprising the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)....