Export: Matcha boom drives Japan's food exports to record high
The matcha boom is bringing Japan's food industry an export record. With new sales markets, the government also wants to reduce its dependence on China.
Tokyo - Japanese agricultural exports hit a record high in the first half of the year, driven by strong demand for green tea. Agricultural, forestry and fishery product shipments increased by 10.9 percent year-on-year to 897.7 billion yen (around five billion euros), the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday in Tokyo. In addition to beef, apples and rice, green tea was especially sought after, with exports jumping 83.5 percent.
Known for its health benefits, green tea is gaining popularity in Western countries, including in powdered matcha form. Reasons for the surge include a growing interest in Japanese cuisine worldwide, heightened interest in Japanese products due to increased tourism, and a heightened awareness of health. The United States is the biggest market for these exports, with shipments there up 15.3 percent to 162.6 billion yen.
China has also seen an increase in sales, despite Beijing continuing to limit imports of Japanese seafood. Japan is actively seeking to reduce its dependence on China by tapping into new markets in Asia and the United States.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Exports: Matcha boom drives Japan's food exports to record high handelsblatt.com
