April 10, 2008

Japan's changing consumer preference boosts grain imports by 71 percent

Japanese consumers' shift in their diets has encouraged the imports of grains such as corn and wheat, which surged by 71 percent in 2007.

Japan imports almost 90 percent of its wheat.

Half the livestock produced in Japan also consumes feed grains that are supplied from overseas countries.

In 2007, Japan's total grain imports surged by 71 percent in five years to US$7 billion.

The typical Japanese breakfast today includes toast made from imported wheat, ham from pigs that eat imported grain and eggs from chickens that eat grain.

Previously, the Japanese have been fond of homegrown rice, fish and homegrown pickled vegetables.

The higher commodity prices in the global market put the spotlight on Japan's declining self-sufficiency rate.

Japan only grows 39 percent of the food it needs.