June 26, 2008

Japan plans emergency 5,000-tonne butter import  

Japan is planning to import 5,000 tons of butter from Europe and elsewhere as an emergency supply measure, farm ministry officials said Thursday (June 26, 2008).

The measure is being taken to avoid a shortage during the peak season from fall through the end of the year, according to a Japan Times report.

The shipment will be handled by Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corp., a subsidiary of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.

The butter should arrive around October would serve industrial and not consumer demand.

In April, the ministry asked four major Japanese milk producers to release their butter inventories and increase production.

Despite these efforts, domestic supply is failing to meet demand.

The 5,000-tonne shipment amounts to more than 5 percent of Japan's annual consumption of about 90,000 tonnes.