Browse Data and Analysis

Japan's fresh vegetable market is estimated at approximately 14 million metric tons of which around 5 percent comes from imports. In 2023, the United States was the fourth largest supplier of fresh vegetables to Japan at $52 million and the second largest by volume at 46,309 metric tons.

In relation to persistent rising food prices, Japan has seen a decline in overall vegetable oil consumption. Due to the more favorable crush margin for canola compared to soybeans, FAS/Tokyo forecasts a reduction in soybean imports and crush, while seeing an increase in rapeseed imports and crush for both MY 2023/24 and MY 2024/25.

This report highlights Japan’s food processing industry, notable trends, and a market snapshot of western Japan. The industry experienced a 4.1 percent decline in the value of food produced in 2023 from 2022 on a dollar basis totaling $182 billion compared to $190 billion in 2022.

Rice consumption continues to decline due to a shrinking population and reductions in per capita consumption.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) confirmed Japan’s first outbreak of Spodoptera frugiperda, or Fall Armyworm (FAW).

The United States, as the second largest exporter of processed vegetables to Japan, accounts for 20 percent of the market, valued at US$560 million in 2018.