Food

Which EU Agri-Food and Textile Sectors have benefited most from the EPA?

The EU-Japan EPA entered into force on 1 February 2019. How has the application of this Agreement influenced EU exports of Agri-Food and Textile Products to Japan? Which sectors have seized the opportunities of preferential market access in Japan, and which have not?

What are the opportunities for the EU SMEs in the Japanese frozen food and ice cream market?

Over time, Japan’s frozen food market is showing a growing trend. However, in 2020, due to COVID-19, there was a volume drop by 3.6%. The retail sector experienced a large increase due to more home cooking, but this was not enough to make up for declining sales within the food service segment.

Japan’s annual domestic production of olive oil is limited at about 45 tonnes (2020). Japan cannot meet the internal demand and imports more than 99% of the domestic consumption. In 2020, Japan imported about 70,000 tonnes. The EU supplies the majority of the imports; 96% of total imports in 2020. The main EU exporters are Spain and Italy that together have a market share of about 94%.

What business opportunities does the Japanese olive oil market offer to EU SMEs?

Japan’s annual domestic production of olive oil is limited at about 45 tonnes (2020). Japan cannot meet the internal demand and imports more than 99% of the domestic consumption. In 2020, Japan imported about 70,000 tonnes. The EU supplies the majority of the imports; 96% of total imports in 2020. The main EU exporters are Spain and Italy that together have a market share of about 94%.

Various EU products and services began to enjoy benefits from the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which entered in force on 1 February 2019, and we are seeing a considerable increase of EU exports to Japan. But yet many EU exporters, particularly small and medium-scaled enterprises (SMEs) perceive access to Japanese market difficult because of unfamiliar trade and business practices.

What does the existing structure of Japan’s organic food and beverage market look like, and what are the business opportunities for EU SMEs?