コメ不足ふそく感かん「改善かいぜんせず」 スーパーの平均へいきん価格かかくは5キロ4220円えんに

After the release of reserve rice began, NHK interviewed wholesale companies across the country about the state of rice transactions. Of the 13 companies interviewed, 7 responded that the rice shortage situation has not improved, revealing that even after the release of reserve rice, the sense of rice shortage at the wholesale level has not been sufficiently resolved.

The average price of rice at supermarkets: 4,220 yen for 5 kilograms. The price has increased for 16 consecutive weeks. At supermarkets nationwide, the average price of rice sold during the week up to the 20th of this month was 4,220 yen including tax per 5 kilograms, which is 3 yen higher than the previous week.

Since late March, reserve rice has been distributed to supermarkets and other outlets, but prices have risen for 16 consecutive weeks.

Asking wholesalers: What are the trading conditions after the release of reserve rice? NHK asked 13 out of all the nationwide wholesalers belonging to Zenbeihan National Rice Sales Business Mutual Aid Cooperative Association about the trading situation and other matters after the release of reserve rice began.

Of these, regarding the trading situation, 4 companies answered that the rice shortage has improved, while 7 companies said it has not improved. This shows that even after reserve rice was released, the sense of rice shortage has not been resolved.

Regarding the purchase price, all 13 companies answered that it has not decreased or has hardly changed, and 5 companies said that they requested price increases from business partners such as supermarkets after April.

There were several companies that said they were adjusting the amount they sell to ensure that their rice stock would not run out before the new crop comes out in the summer off-season.

We were only able to secure less stockpiled rice than we had hoped from the wholesaler in Hokkaido, and our inventory isn’t abundant, so we’ll need to make adjustments to avoid running out of stock.

He said, Although reserve rice has started to appear on the market, its not in a quantity large enough to bring prices down.

Wholesale companies in the Tohoku region say, The rice shortage is still ongoing, and were struggling to make our own stock last until the off-season this summer, but its becoming a difficult situation.

Supermarket buyers and others are placing larger orders than ever before, but he said, Theres no way we can meet that demand.

Also, major wholesalers say, Ordinary varieties of rice are already seeing fewer transactions at this time of year, so even if reserve rice is released, it will have almost no impact.

It was only enough to make up for the original shortage, so the impact on transaction prices was small, he said.

In addition, a wholesale company in the Kyushu region said, Although reserve rice is being distributed, the sense of rice shortage has not improved.

The prices remain high, and its certain that this years new rice will be more expensive than last years, they said.

Professor Mitsuyoshi Ando of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, who specializes in agricultural policy, pointed out regarding the continued high retail prices even after the release of reserve rice, Although reserve rice is certainly being supplied at a low price, wholesalers have been purchasing rice at high prices since last autumn, so the reality is that its not easy for them to lower prices.

Also, regarding the impact of continued high prices on rice consumption: If the market shrinks, producers will be in trouble, and although the amount isnt very large, there are also moves to switch to foreign rice.

It is important that transactions are conducted at stable prices that allow producers to have a clear outlook for the future, he said.

On the other hand, regarding the future price of rice, If it turns out that the production volume for the 2025 crop will increase significantly, the rice market will soften, but that outlook has not yet been established.

How much production will increase, and how much capacity remains—that will become clear this year, I think.

The aging of producers is also progressing considerably, and especially, it depends on how much production can increase in the major rice-producing areas of eastern Japan, he said.