外国がいこく産さんのコメ 流通りゅうつう大手おおてが販売はんばい拡大かくだい 価格かかく高だか止どまりや品薄しなうす感かん解消かいしょうへ

Major distributors are increasingly expanding sales of foreign rice in an effort to address the persistently high rice prices and the sense of shortages at retail stores.

Aeon, one of Japan’s major retailers, held a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Minato Ward, Tokyo on the 13th, announcing that it will begin selling Calrose, a type of rice produced in California, USA, starting sequentially from the 6th of next month.

Except for the minimum access system, in which the government imports foreign rice, a tariff of 341 yen per kilogram is imposed. However, the company is importing about 1 unit missing in order to alleviate the sense of shortage at stores.

We will import 40,000 tons and pay the tariff.

The price is 2,894 yen including tax for 4 kilograms, which is about 10% cheaper than domestic products, and it will be sold until around autumn when the new rice comes out.

Calrose is characterized by having less stickiness compared to domestically produced rice, and at the venue, dishes such as risotto and pilaf were introduced.

The press conference was also attended by George Glass, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who said, It is historic that our products will be sold in Japan, where consumers are the least willing in the world to compromise on quality.

He said, It will likely be highly regarded by Japanese consumers as well.

Aeon’s Vice President Mitsuko Tsuchiya also said, “In urban areas and elsewhere, rice stocks are running low.”

I want to sell at a price thats easy for people who want to buy to pick up, they said.

Regarding foreign-produced rice, Ito-Yokado also expanded its sales, such as selling rice produced in California, USA until last month, in an effort to alleviate the sense of shortage in stores.

Supermarkets that handle rice produced in Taiwan: At a supermarket in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki, it is said that rice continues to be in short supply even after the release of reserve rice.

Since last month, stockpiled rice has also become available, but they havent been able to obtain enough to resolve the feeling of shortage. The 180 five-kilogram bags of stockpiled rice that have arrived so far were gone immediately.

In this situation, this store started selling rice produced in Taiwan from late last month.

On the 13th, about 20 bags of Taiwanese rice were lined up in the store, but customers were saying, Even if its expensive, I want to buy Japanese rice.

A woman in her 70s who came to buy rice said, After all, domestic rice is the best.

I hope the prices go down soon, they said.

Store manager Tetsurou Maki said, The rice shortage is continuing, and I dont think prices will go down yet.

We display Taiwanese rice only after properly inspecting it, so I want customers to feel assured, he said.

JA Zenchu President: “Stable supply at prices both consumers and producers can agree on.” At the regular press conference on the 13th, JA Zenchu President Yamano said regarding the current rice prices, “With the sale of reserve rice, we can expect retail prices to stabilize.”

The increase in retail prices has shifted from a narrowing trend to a decline, and the effects of the stockpiled rice are beginning to appear, he said.

On the other hand, regarding the price of rice harvested in autumn, it was pointed out that if we comprehensively take into account factors such as the provisional payments set by JA to farmers, inventory levels, and the supply-demand environment, it may have an impact on prices.

In addition, Chairman Yamano stated, For many years, the price of rice has been at an extremely low level that does not cover production costs.

He stated, The most important thing is to ensure a stable supply at prices that both consumers and producers can accept, emphasizing his intention to carefully monitor the distribution situation, including government stockpiled rice, while promoting rice production in line with demand.

In addition, it was made clear that the government will be requested in the future not to make any concessions on agricultural and livestock products beyond those in the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement, nor to engage in any negotiations that would compromise the safety or security of food, in the context of Japan-U.S. negotiations over U.S. tariff measures.

Minister Eto Considers Improvements to Ensure Stockpiled Rice is Distributed Regarding the average price of rice sold at supermarkets nationwide dropping for the first time in 18 weeks, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto stated, While I welcome this, it is not at a level that consumers can highly appreciate. He also revealed that he is considering measures to further ensure that affordable stockpiled rice is distributed.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the average price of rice sold at supermarkets nationwide during the week up to the 4th of this month was 4,214 yen per 5 kilograms including tax, which is a drop of 19 yen from the previous week, marking the first price decrease in 18 weeks.

At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 13th, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto said, I would like to welcome this as one change, but it is not at a level that consumers will highly appreciate, and there is still a long way to go.

On top of that, Regarding future bidding for reserve rice, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is considering every day, based on the current situation, what can be done.

He stated, Once the policy is decided, I want to announce it properly, and revealed that the government is considering improvement measures to ensure that the low-priced stockpiled rice released by the government is distributed more widely.

On the other hand, regarding the recent trend of various JAs across the country already increasing the provisional payments to farmers for this years new rice harvest compared to last year, Minister Eto stated, Its not appropriate for me to say whether the amount is too high or too low, but I do think it will naturally affect the market price of this years new rice.