TOKYO – The Japanese Agriculture Ministry yesterday said the country’s exports of farm and food products in the January-June period surged 30.8% from a year before to ¥540.7 billion (RM20.96 billion), exceeding ¥500 billion for the first time for the first-half period.
The sharp rise is thanks to robust shipments of beef and alcoholic beverages like sake, reported Jiji Press.
Including goods worth ¥200,000 or less, exports in the six months totalled ¥577.3 billion, up 31.6%.
Consumer spending recovered in the United States and China.
Exports of food products aimed at people eating at home also fared well, reflecting moves among the public to refrain from dine-in at restaurants amid the spread of Covid-19.
In particular, exports of beef mainly from the Kyushu southwestern region roughly doubled. Exports of alcoholic beverages rose 83.1% on the back of increased recognition for sake and Japanese whisky.
By region, exports rose 16.8% to ¥103 billion for Hong Kong, the biggest export destination for Japan.
Exports shot up 34.4% to ¥101.8 billion for China and 43.2% to ¥77.8 billion for the US.
The Japanese government aims to boost farm and food exports to ¥2 trillion in 2025 and ¥5 trillion in 2030.
“We hope to expand exports further by promoting unified measures by the government,” Agriculture Minister Kotaro Nogami told a press conference. – Bernama, August 4, 2021
