Japan's Agri-Exports Surge to a Record High in 2025

Japan's exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products soared 12.8% to a new all-time high in 2025, driven by strong sales to the United States and a partial recovery in trade with China.

According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), total exports reached 1.701 trillion yen ($10.9 billion), up from 1.507 trillion yen in 2024. This marks the 13th consecutive year of growth for the sector.

What's Driving the Export Boom?

Several factors are fueling the sustained demand for Japanese food products on the global stage.

"Rising global interest in Japanese cuisine, greater awareness of Japanese food among inbound tourists, and growing health consciousness are driving demand," said Kazuyoshi Nakasugi, deputy director of MAFF's export policy planning division.

He noted that these trends helped push exports to record levels in key markets, including the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Key Market Performance: US Leads, China Rebounds

United States Remains Top Buyer Despite Tariffs

The U.S. cemented its position as Japan's largest export destination for the second straight year, with shipments climbing 13.7% to 276.2 billion yen. This growth was achieved despite new tariffs introduced in April, propelled by robust demand for products like green tea and beef.

China's Market Shows Signs of Recovery

Exports to China grew 7.0% to 179.9 billion yen, a significant turnaround from the 29% slump recorded in 2024. The rebound was supported by higher shipments of ornamental koi, beer, and logs.

The Lingering Impact of the Fukushima Water Release

While overall trade with China improved, Japan's seafood exports have yet to recover. China suspended all imports of Japanese seafood in August 2023 after the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The ban was eased in mid-2025, but some restrictions remain. "Even after the easing, Japan's seafood exports to China have not recovered much," Nakasugi stated.

In response, the Japanese government is continuing its strategy to diversify seafood export destinations by developing new commercial channels across Asia and in the United States.

Government Sets Sights on a ¥5 Trillion Future

Despite the record performance, the 2025 total fell short of the government's 2-trillion-yen goal for the year. By category, several individual products posted record export values, including beef, rice, green tea, and yellowtail.

Looking ahead, Japan has set a more ambitious target of reaching 5 trillion yen in food exports by 2030.

"We aim to reach the 5 trillion yen target by 2030 by diversifying export destinations," Nakasugi said. The strategy includes expanding sales channels beyond Japanese-affiliated businesses to major local retailers and restaurants while securing sufficient production of high-demand foods such as matcha.