Japan Government White Paper Notes Rise in Private Rice Imports

The Japanese government adopted its fiscal 2025 white paper on food, agriculture and rural areas on Friday. The report stated that private-sector rice imports increased after retail prices roughly doubled year on year in May 2025. “If this trend continues, demand for domestic staple rice will decrease, which will affect domestic production,” the white paper said.

It attributed part of the price increase to an inaccurate demand forecast by the agriculture ministry and to delays in releasing government stockpiles. “We could not dispel the anxiety among wholesalers and others, which led to further price hikes,” the document stated.

The white paper examined risks to the supply of imported agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers and feed. It said high import prices and export disruptions from producer countries have increased food security risks. The report also addressed potential effects of tensions in the Middle East on fuel supplies.

Japan’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors rely on fossil fuels for more than 90 percent of their energy needs, the document noted.