Japanese import of fruit and vegetables from China drops strongly in first quarter
on: May 04 ,2020 In: Developing News
Japan may be far away, but the market for mainly fresh fruit is a global happening. Of the 2.5 million tons of fresh fruit and vegetables that Japan imports annually, 40% comes from outside Asia. For example, between 350,000 and 400,000 tons of fruit and vegetables are imported annually from North America and a further 240,000 tons from Oceania. Imports from Africa, but especially those from Europe, are of modest size. Globally, Japan is just outside the top 10 of import countries, at 2.5 million tonnes (worth $ 3.2 billion).
Besides China also less from other countries in the region
It seems that imports into Japan at the beginning of this year were influenced by the corona crisis already prevailing on that continent. In the first three months of this year, Japanese imports from countries in South and East Asia lagged no less than 20% from last year. Compared to the first quarter of 2018, it was much less, but then a lot of vegetables had to be imported because of scarcity. In all three first months of the year, imports lagged the same months in 2019.
More from New Zealand and Chile
This does not include imports of bananas from the Philippines. Every year, Japan imports a few million tonnes of bananas from that country. That flow has been maintained. After that, China is the most important supplier from the region. In the first quarter, imports from China to Japan lagged more than 20% compared to last year. The same picture can be seen with imports from South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.
Imports from North America (incl. Mexico) in the first quarter were slightly (4%) smaller than Q1 in 2019; the United States -7% and Mexico -1%. Countries that managed to sell significantly more in Japan in the first quarter were New Zealand (+ 28%) and Chile (+ 20%).
Banana imports from the Philippines remained stable
As far as products are concerned, the supply of bananas (from the Philippines) simply remained stable. The picture is very variable with the other products. The import of pineapple, pumpkins and
lemons were bigger in the first quarter. Less was imported of oranges, carrots, avocados, grapefruit and leeks.
Source: freshplaza.com – 1st May 2020 (Originally from www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com)