Japanese rice is displayed for sale at a supermarket. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)
The amount of rice imported by Japanese private enterprises from abroad has increased rapidly due to a shortage in the domestic market.
In fiscal year 2024 (ending March 2025), the amount of rice applied for import reached a record high of 991 tons as of the end of January 2025.
Currently, companies can benefit from this imported rice, even though they have to pay high tariffs.
There are two types of rice imports. The first is government-imported rice, as Japan is obliged to buy a certain amount from abroad under World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.
The second type is imported by private individuals such as trading companies and other companies. These companies have to pay taxes to the government.
Within the current rice import quota of 770,000 tons, the Japanese Government has imported up to 100,000 tons of rice to use as a staple food for the market.
For the first time in seven years, government-imported rice sold out in fiscal 2024 due to poor domestic rice harvest.
Data on private rice imports only started being kept from FY2019 onwards, with 426 tonnes imported in FY2020. Since then, private rice imports have typically ranged from 200-400 tonnes per year.
But in fiscal 2024, the amount reached 468 tons as of the end of December last year and doubled to 991 tons as of the end of January 2025. Last month, Kanematsu, a major trading company based in Tokyo, announced it would import 10,000 tons of rice by 2025, an unprecedented move.
They cite high demand from the restaurant industry, such as gyudon beef rice bowl chains.
According to sources close to the distribution industry, the purchase price of U.S.-produced Calrose medium-grain rice is about 150 yen (about $1) per kilogram, including shipping and other costs.
After adding tariffs, the total price is around 500 yen per kilogram. Sources say that with domestic rice currently selling at around 900 yen per kilogram in stores, companies can make enough profit from imports.
Yokohama-based OK supermarket chain has been selling Calrose rice at 10 of its stores since March 7 for 3,335 yen per 5kg (tax included). The company will make decisions such as whether to sell the rice at other stores depending on sales at these 10 stores./.
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