Japan’s food exports hit record high in first half

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, August 6, 2026

Japan's exports of agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products hit a record 897.7 billion yen in the first half of 2026, growing 10.9 percent from the previous year and driven by strong demand in key markets like the United States, South Korea, and Vietnam. This growth reflects rising global interest in Japanese cuisine, especially products like green tea and yellowtail, and highlights Japan’s expanding presence in international food markets despite slower overall export growth.

Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products reached a record high in the first half of 2026, totaling 897.7 billion yen ($5.7 billion), marking a 10.9 percent increase from the same period in 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Tuesday. This surge represents the highest value for the January-June period for the second consecutive year.

The growth was driven by increased shipments to all of Japan’s top 10 export destinations, including the United States, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and Vietnam. The United States remained the largest market, with exports rising 15.3 percent to 162.6 billion yen. Other markets showed notable gains as well, with exports to South Korea climbing 20.5 percent, fueled in part by strong demand for yellowtail and beer. Exports to Vietnam jumped 35.4 percent, supported by increased imports of scallops and mackerel.

Green tea was one of the standout export products, benefiting from a global surge in matcha popularity. The Ministry attributed this trend partly to heightened international awareness of Japanese cuisine, spurred by growing inbound tourism to Japan. The expanding health consciousness worldwide and the opening of new sales channels, especially in supermarkets and restaurants that previously had limited Japanese food offerings, also contributed to the rising demand. Green tea exports surged 83.5 percent, reaching 48.2 billion yen, driven by its increased use as an ingredient in lattes and sweets.

Other products recorded significant increases as well. Yellowtail exports rose 69.0 percent to 43.4 billion yen, maintaining strong demand particularly in North America and South Korea, where prices also increased. Beef, apples, sauces, and mixed seasonings all achieved record export values for the first half of 2026. Despite a decline in volume, rice exports rose in value to a record 7.5 billion yen, owing to supply shortages and higher prices.

While the overall export growth rate slowed compared to the 15.5 percent increase reported in the first half of 2025, the positive trend underscores Japan’s ongoing success in expanding its global food product markets. Notably, eight of the top 10 destination countries set new export records, with only Hong Kong and China showing more modest increases of 3.0 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.