Japan: Grain and Feed Annual

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken unprecedented steps to alleviate the soaring rice prices that have plagued Japan since the summer 2024 rice shortage. These steps include the release of government contingency rice reserves, a move typically done to provide natural disaster relief. Consequently, demand for imported rice has been strong, and FAS/Tokyo estimates an increase in rice imports in MY2024/2025 but forecasts no further growth in imports for MY2025/26, due to a projected increase in table rice production in response to the high prices. FAS/Tokyo forecasts higher corn imports for MY2025/26 due to a projected increase in feed demand instead of rice, sorghum, wheat, and barley. Additionally, FAS/Tokyo anticipates an increase in food wheat and food barley imports in MY2024/25, following smaller domestic harvests. However, it forecasts wheat and barley imports to decrease in MY2025/26 based on the projected recovery in production for both crops and smaller feed demand for barley.