Japan’s agricultural sector suffers from a combination of low productivity, high and distortionary levels of agricultural support (which places a burden on Japanese consumers and taxpayers) and a shortage of land suited to farming. These limitations undermine Japan’s farming sector and complicate its participation in bilateral and regional trade agreements that would boost its growth potential. To make matters worse, the Fukushima nuclear incident has made exportation harder and importation more volatile. Find out more about Japan's food and beverage industry below.
Japan’s status as a cultural superpower is perhaps best exemplified by the global popularity of Japanese cuisine.
The Japanese liquor market is one of the largest in the world with estimated annual sales of 4 trillion yen and growing consumption in several categories.
Japan is both one of the world’s most technologically advanced nations and also a small-scale agricultural producer, making it a major importer of wheat and other cereals.
A positive outlook can be highlighted for the Japanese confectionery market: It represents the sixth-largest domestic market in the world, with retail sales of US$ 9.4 billion in 2017.
Japan is the fourth biggest import country in the world for dairy products.
The Japanese food market was valued at US$ 769.5 billion in 2017. It presents element of a well-developed industry regarding aspects ranging from retail to hotel, restaurant and institutional food service.
The Japanese population is a traditional consumer of seafood, but meat consumption has increased gradually over recent years, especially among the younger generations.
Organic food is one of the most recent trends in Japan, especially when it comes to health and sanitary concern.
The Japanese processed food market has traditionally been regarded as difficult to enter.
By confirming its previous trends, the Japanese soft drinks market appears to be in good health: Expansion is continuing as well as ongoing competitivity and market opportunities.
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