September 11, 2023

Japan sees 23.2% dip in value in July seafood exports to China

The value of Japan's seafood exports to China fell 23.2% in July from a year earlier to ¥7.7 billion (US$52 million), partly due to the neighboring country's blanket radiation testing on such products that started that month, government data showed on September 5.

The exports of those products saw a decline for the first time since January 2021, as Beijing had tightened its inspections prior to the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Despite concerns from neighboring countries such as China, Japan proceeded in late August to discharge the water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. China subsequently suspended imports of all seafood products from Japan.

Such a ban is likely to see a further drop in China-bound seafood exports for August, ministry officials said.

Tuna was also among the products significantly affected by China's radiation testing that lengthened customs procedures.

The aggregate export value of Japanese agricultural, forestry and fishery products to China for July also fell 20.8% to ¥22.5 billion (US$153.3 million), data showed.

The total exports of such products to Hong Kong were down 2.9%, while those of seafood products alone fell 11.0%.

- Kyodo News