TOKYO, Japan, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Japan’s exports of agriculture, forestry and fisheries amounted to a record high of 906.8 billion yen (8.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, propelled by robust demand from other Asian markets, the farm ministry said.
The number grew 12.4 percent from a year earlier, climbing for the sixth consecutive year, the ministry said.
The preliminary figure for 2018 indicated that the goal of one trillion yen (9.2 billion dollars) of farm export in 2019, is within reach, as it is predicted that the demand for “washoku,” or Japanese food, will rise in overseas markets, especially after Japan’s entry into major free trade agreements.
“To achieve the one-trillion-yen goal, we need an annual growth of more than 10 percent. By supporting producers of export items, we’ll strive to meet the target,” Farm Minister, Takamori Yoshikawa, said.
The Chinese mainland market became the second largest buyer of Japan’s farm produce from previous year’s third place, with 133.8 billion yen (1.2 billion U.S. dollars).
Exports of agricultural products, including processed foods, increased 14.0 percent year-on-year, while those of fisheries products and forestry rose 10.3 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively.– NNN-AGENCIES
